abraham journey distance

• All Bible Maps
• Heart Messages
• Roman Roads
• Archaeology

Map of the Journeys of Abraham

The journeys of abraham.

( Enlarge ) ( PDF for Print ) - Map of Abraham's Journey with Trade Routes (Freely Distributed for Personal or Church use)

Map of Abram's Journey from Ur to Haran to Egypt

The Bible shifts its focus in Genesis 12 from the history of the entire human race to a man named Abram, the first Hebrew, and he lived in Ur of the Chaldees. Later God appeared to Abram and promised him that if he would leave his country and journey to a land that he has never seen, God would make of his descendants a great nation and through them the Savior of the world would come, through his "seed." Later God changed his name to Abraham which means "father of a many nations" and he obeyed God and journeyed to the land of Canaan. The Lord also spoke a promise that anyone who blessed Abraham and his descendants would be blessed and anyone who cursed Abraham and his descendants would be cursed.

The Journey (Abraham Visits 17 Locations) The land of Canaan would be the inheritance of Abraham's descendants but Abraham would only be a pilgrim there. On his journey to Canaan there were seventeen places that Abraham visited recorded in the Old Testament. Each of these places are important in the history of Israel and there is evidence of their existence in ancient times through archaeology. 1. Ur of the Chaldees was the original home of Abraham. It was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, and Ur was the capital of the ancient Chaldean Empire in ancient Mesopotamia. Sometime around 1900 BC the Lord told Abraham to leave his home and country and go to a land that He would show him. He obeyed and departed from Ur with his father Terah and his nephew Lot. (Gen. 11:31; Acts 7:2-4).

2. Haran in Mesopotamia was the first stopping place recorded inn the Bible. They dwelt here until after the death of his father Terah, and in Haran the Lord called Abraham again (Gen. 12:1-4; Acts 7:4). Nahor, Abraham's brother, had probably settled in Haran before they departed. 3. Damascus was a great city in the ancient world and it was located in ancient Aram (Syria). Abraham and his nephew Lot had departed Haran and followed the leading of the Lord. They moved southward and passed by the city of Damascus along the way and it might have been at this time that Abraham secured his servant Eliezer (Gen. 15:2). 4. Shechem or Sichem was the first place where Abraham came to in Canaan. The Lord appeared to Abraham again and confirmed his promises, and It was here at Shechem that Abraham built the first altar to the Lord (Gen. 12:6, 7). There is much history in this place (Joshua 24:1, Judges 9:6, 1 Kings 12:1). 5. Bethel . Abraham continued his journey southward and came to a mountain near Bethel, where he built a second altar (Genesis 12:8). 6. Egypt . Abraham and his family journeyed southward through the land of Canaan and a major famine hit they migrated to Egypt. In Egypt Abraham deceived the King in order to save his own life and was expelled from the land of Egypt (Gen. 12:9-20). The king of Egypt feared Abraham because of a dream and allowed him to leave with all of his possessions. 7. Bethel . Abraham and his nephew Lot returned to their former home at Bethel, but on account of strife between their herdsmen they parted each others company as friends. (Gen. 13:1-9). 8. Hebron . Lot chose the warm climate and lush plains of the Jordan Valley and pitched his tent toward Sodom, and Abraham left the desirable Sodom and Gomorrah and sojourned at Hebron in Mamre where he heard again from the Lord and built an altar (Gen. 13:10-18). An interesting note is that Hebron was one of the oldest cities in ancient Canaan and Numbers 13:22 says that "it was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt." 9. Dan . Four kings of the east came to Canaan who were united under Chedorlaomer of Elam (the territory of ancient Ur) and made war against the five kings of Canaan. In their conquest of the Jordan Valley they captured Lot as a prisoner of war, and when Abraham heard of it he pursued the four kings and overtook them at Dan and defeated them with the help of the Lord (Gen. 14:1-14), Abraham had assembled an army of 318 men. The city of Dan was located in the north between Hazor and Damascus. 10. Hobah . Abraham and his army of servants smote the army of the 4 kings of Chedorlaomer and chased them to Hobah, which was located near Damascus. Lot and all the people with them were rescued including their belongings (Gen. 14:15, 16). 11. Salem . On his return Abraham passed through Salem (Jerusalem) and was met by a man named Melchizedek whose name means "king of righteousness". Melchizedek was a mysterious man regarded in the Bible as the priest and king of Salem. This was the first mention of the word "priest" in the Bible and he gave to Abraham bread and wine. The Bible also mentions that Abraham paid him 1/10th of all his spoils from the war as a "tithe". Hebrews 7:3 gives an interesting description of Melchizedek and therefore his identity remains a mystery. The king of Sodom also came out to meet Abraham at the same place (Gen. 14:17-21). 12. Hebron . When Abraham finally returned to Hebron God reminded him of his covenant with him and changed his name from Abram to Abraham (Gen. 15:1-21; 17:1-27). During his stay at this place Ishmael was born (Gen. 16: 1-16) and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed (Gen. 18:1 - 19:38) 13. Gerar . Abraham left Hebron and for a time sojourned among the Philistines in Gerar which was in southern Canaan west of Beersheba. It was in Gerar that Abraham deceived King Abimelech (Gen. 20:1-18). 14. Beersheba . Abraham remained at Beersheba for some time. During this time he made a covenant with king Abimelech. Later he gave birth to a natural son of him and Sarah in his old age, he named him Isaac which means "laughter". When Isaac was born Ishmael was expelled and his mother Hagar fled and was met by "the Angel of the Lord" which was the Lord Himself (Gen. 21:1-34). 15. Moriah . It was in Beersheba that Abraham received the command from the Lord to take his only son Isaac to Mount Moriah, a mountain of Salem, to offer Isaac as a burnt offering (Gen. 22:1-18). 16. Beersheba . Abraham returned to Beersheba and dwelt there for some time. 17. Hebron . Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah as the family sepulcher and buried his wife Sarah there (Gen. 23: 1-20). At the age of 175 Abraham died, and was also buried in the cave at Machpelah.

( Enlarge ) ( PDF for Print ) (Freely Distributed)

Map of the World of Abraham

Ur of the Chaldees

Ur in Easton's Bible Dictionary light, or the moon city, a city "of the Chaldees," the birthplace of Haran (Gen. 11:28,31), the largest city of Shinar or northern Chaldea, and the principal commercial centre of the country as well as the centre of political power. It stood near the mouth of the Euphrates, on its western bank, and is represented by the mounds (of bricks cemented by bitumen) of el-Mugheir, i.e., "the bitumined," or "the town of bitumen," now 150 miles from the sea and some 6 miles from the Euphrates, a little above the point where it receives the Shat el-Hie, an affluent from the Tigris. It was formerly a maritime city, as the waters of the Persian Gulf reached thus far inland. Ur was the port of Babylonia, whence trade was carried on with the dwellers on the gulf, and with the distant countries of India, Ethiopia, and Egypt. It was abandoned about B.C. 500, but long continued, like Erech, to be a great sacred cemetery city, as is evident from the number of tombs found there. (See ABRAHAM The oldest king of Ur known to us is Ur-Ba'u (servant of the goddess Ba'u), as Hommel reads the name, or Ur-Gur, as others read it. He lived some twenty-eight hundred years B.C., and took part in building the famous temple of the moon-god Sin in Ur itself. The illustration here given represents his cuneiform inscription, written in the Sumerian language, and stamped upon every brick of the temple in Ur. It reads: "Ur-Ba'u, king of Ur, who built the temple of the moon-god." "Ur was consecrated to the worship of Sin, the Babylonian moon-god. It shared this honour, however, with another city, and this city was Haran, or Harran. Harran was in Mesopotamia, and took its name from the highroad which led through it from the east to the west. The name is Babylonian, and bears witness to its having been founded by a Babylonian king. The same witness is still more decisively borne by the worship paid in it to the Babylonian moon-god and by its ancient temple of Sin. Indeed, the temple of the moon-god at Harran was perhaps even more famous in the Assyrian and Babylonian world than the temple of the moon-god at Ur. "Between Ur and Harran there must, consequently, have been a close connection in early times, the record of which has not yet been recovered. It may be that Harran owed its foundation to a king of Ur; at any rate the two cities were bound together by the worship of the same deity, the closest and most enduring bond of union that existed in the ancient world. That Terah should have migrated from Ur to Harran, therefore, ceases to be extraordinary. If he left Ur at all, it was the most natural place to which to go. It was like passing from one court of a temple into another. "Such a remarkable coincidence between the Biblical narrative and the evidence of archaeological research cannot be the result of chance. The narrative must be historical; no writer of late date, even if he were a Babylonian, could have invented a story so exactly in accordance with what we now know to have been the truth. For a story of the kind to have been the invention of Palestinian tradition is equally impossible. To the unprejudiced mind there is no escape from the conclusion that the history of the migration of Terah from Ur to Harran is founded on fact" (Sayce). Ur in Fausset's Bible Dictionary Of the Chaldees (Genesis 11:28; Genesis 11:31; Genesis 15:7; Nehemiah 9:7), from which Terah, Abraham, and Lot were called. In Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2). Now Mugheir (a ruined temple of large bitumen bricks, which also "mugheir" means, namely, Um Mugheir "mother of bitumen"), on the right bank of the Euphrates, near its junction with the Shat el Hie from the Tigris; in Chaldaea proper. Called Hur by the natives, and on monuments Ur. The most ancient city of the older Chaldaea. Its bricks bear the name of the earliest monumental kings, "Urukh king of Ur"; his kingdom extended as far N. as Niffer. The royal lists on the monuments enumerate Babylonian kings from Urukh (2230 B.C., possibly the Orchanus of Ovid, Met. 4:212) down to Nabonid (540 B.C.) the last. The temple was sacred to 'Urki, the moon goddess; Ilgi son of Urukh completed it. For two centuries it was the capital, and always was held sacred. One district was "Ibra," perhaps related to "Hebrew," Abraham's designation. Ur was also a cemetery and city of tombs, doubtless because of its sacred character, from whence the dead were brought to it from vast distances for 1,800 years. Eupolemos (in Eusebius, Praep. Ev. 9:17) refers to Ur as "the moon worshipping (kamarine; kamar being Arabic for moon) city." The derivation from Ur, "fire," led to the Koran and Talmud legends that Abraham miraculously escaped out of the flames into which Nimrod or other idolatrous persecutors threw him. Ur lies six miles distant from the present coarse of the Euphrates, and 125 from the sea; though it is thought it was anciently a maritime town, and that its present inland site is due to the accumulation of alluvium (?). The buildings are of the most archaic kind, consisting of low mounds enclosed within an enceinte, on most sides perfect, an oval space 1,000 yards long by 800 broad. The temple is thoroughly Chaldaean in type, in stages of which two remain, of brick partly sunburnt, partly baked, cemented with bitumen. Ur in Hitchcock's Bible Names fire Ur in Naves Topical Bible 1. Abraham's native place Ge 11:27,28 Abraham leaves Ge 11:31; 15:7; Ne 9:7 -2. Father of one of David's mighty men 1Ch 11:35 Ur in Smiths Bible Dictionary was the land of Haran's nativity, Ge 11:28 the place from which Terah and Abraham started "to go into the land of Canaan." Ge 11:31 It is called in Genesis "Ur of the Chaldaeans," while in the Acts St. Stephen places it, by implication, in Mesopotamia. Ac 7:2,4 These are all the indications which Scripture furnishes as to its locality. It has been identified by the most ancient traditions with the city of Orfah in the highlands of Mesopotamia, which unite the table-land of Armenia to the valley of the Euphrates. In later ages it was called Edessa, and was celebrated as the capital of Abgarus or Acbarus who was said to have received the letter and portrait of our Saviour. "Two, physical features must have secured Orfah, from the earliest times, as a nucleus for the civilization of those regions. One is a high-crested crag, the natural fortifications of the crested citadel....The other is an abundant spring, issuing in a pool of transparent clearness, and embosomed in a mass of luxuriant verdure, which, amidst the dull brown desert all around, makes and must always have made, this spot an oasis, a paradise, in the Chaldaean wilderness. Round this sacred pool,'the beautiful spring Callirrhoe,' as it was called by the Greek writers, gather the modern traditions of the patriarch." --Stanley, Jewish Church, part i.p.7. A second tradition, which appears in the Talmud, finds Ur in Warka, 120 miles southeast from Babylon and four east of the Euphrates. It was the Orchoe of the Greeks, and probably the Ereck of Holy Scripture. This place bears the name of Huruk in the native inscriptions, and was in the countries known to the Jews as the land of the Chaldaeans. But in opposition to the most ancient traditions, many modern writers have fixed the site of Ur at a very different position, viz. in the extreme south of Chaldaea, at Mugheir, not very far above-- and probably in the time of Abraham actually upon-- the head of the Persian Gulf. Among the ruins which are now seen at the spot are the remains of one of the great temples, of a model similar to that of Babel, dedicated to the moon, to whom the city was sacred. (Porter and Rawlinson favor this last place.) Ur in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE ur ('ur, "flame"; Codex Vaticanus Sthur; Codex Sinaiticus Ora): Father of Eliphal, one of David's "mighty men," in 1 Ch 11:35; in the parallel 2 Sam 23:34 called "Ahasbai." Ur Scripture - Genesis 11:28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. https://bible-history.com/...

2 Kings 25:13 - And the pillars of brass that [were] in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that [was] in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon. 2 Kings 24:2 - And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees , and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets. 2 Chronicles 36:17 - Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees , who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave [them] all into his hand. Genesis 11:31 - And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees , to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 2 Kings 25:4 - And the city was broken up, and all the men of war [fled] by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which [is] by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees [were] against the city round about:) and [the king] went the way toward the plain. Genesis 15:7 - And he said unto him, I [am] the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees , to give thee this land to inherit it. 2 Kings 25:5 - And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. 2 Kings 25:25 - But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah. 2 Kings 25:24 - And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees : dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you. 2 Kings 25:26 - And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees . Nehemiah 9:7 - Thou [art] the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees , and gavest him the name of Abraham; Isaiah 13:19 - And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees ' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 2 Kings 25:10 - And all the army of the Chaldees , that [were with] the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. Genesis 11:28 - And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees .

Ancient Haran

Haran in Easton's Bible Dictionary (1.) Heb. haran; i.e., "mountaineer." The eldest son of Terah, brother of Abraham and Nahor, and father of Lot, Milcah, and Iscah. He died before his father (Gen. 11:27), in Ur of the Chaldees. (2.) Heb. haran, i.e., "parched;" or probably from the Accadian charana, meaning "a road." A celebrated city of Western Asia, now Harran, where Abram remained, after he left Ur of the Chaldees, till his father Terah died (Gen. 11:31, 32), when he continued his journey into the land of Canaan. It is called "Charran" in the LXX. and in Acts 7:2. It is called the "city of Nahor" (Gen. 24:10), and Jacob resided here with Laban (30:43). It stood on the river Belik, an affluent of the Euphrates, about 70 miles above where it joins that river in Upper Mesopotamia or Padan-aram, and about 600 miles northwest of Ur in a direct line. It was on the caravan route between the east and west. It is afterwards mentioned among the towns taken by the king of Assyria (2 Kings 19:12; Isa. 37:12). It was known to the Greeks and Romans under the name Carrhae. (3.) The son of Caleb of Judah (1 Chr. 2:46) by his concubine Ephah. Haran in Fausset's Bible Dictionary HARAN was Terah's firstborn son, oldest brother of Abram (who is named first in Genesis 11:27, because heir of the promises), father of Lot, and Milcah who married her uncle Nahor, and Iscah or Sarai who married her uncle Abram, being "daughter (i.e. granddaughter) of his father not of his mother" (Genesis 20:12). That Haran was oldest brother appears from his brothers marrying his daughters, Sarai being only ten years younger than Abram (Genesis 17:17). Haran died in Ur, his native place, before his father. In the Hebrew the country Haran begins with 'ch', the man Haran with 'h', as also the Haran the Gershonite Levite under David of Shimei's family (1 Chronicles 23:9). Hara begins with 'h'; Caleb's son by Ephah (1 Chronicles 2:46) begins with 'ch'. Jewish tradition makes Haran to have been cast into Nimrod's furnace for wavering during Abram's fiery trial. Haran in Hitchcock's Bible Names mountainous country Haran in Naves Topical Bible 1. Father of Lot and brother of Abraham Ge 11:26-31 -2. Son of Caleb 1Ch 2:46 -3. A Levite 1Ch 23:9 -4. Also called CHARRAN A place in Mesopotamia to which Terah and Abraham migrated Ge 11:31; 12:4,5; Ac 7:4 Death of Terah at Ge 11:32 Abraham leaves, by divine command Ge 12:1-5 Jacob flees to Ge 27:43; 28:7; 29 Returns from, with Rachel and Leah Ge 31:17-21 Conquest of, king of Assyria 2Ki 19:12 Merchants of Eze 27:23 Idolatry in Jos 24:2,14; Isa 37:12 Haran in Smiths Bible Dictionary (a mountaineer). 1. The third son of Terah, and therefore youngest brother of Abram. Ge 11:26 (B.C. 1926.) Three children are ascribed to him --Lot, vs. Ge 11:27,31 and two daughters, viz., Milcah, who married her uncle Nahor, ver. Ge 11:29 and Iscah. ver. Ge 11:29 Haran was born in Ur of the Chaldees, and he died there while his father was still living. ver. Ge 11:28 2. A Gershonite Levite in the time of David, one of the family of Shimei. 1Ch 23:9 3. A son of the great Caleb by his concubine Ephah. 1Ch 2:46 4. HARAN or CHARRAN, Ac 7:2,4 name of the place whither Abraham migrated with his family from Ur of the Chaldees, and where the descendants of his brother Nahor established themselves. Comp. Ge 24:10 with Gene 27:43 It is said to be in Mesopotamia, Ge 24:10 or more definitely in Padan-aram, ch. Ge 25:20 the cultivated district at the foot of the hills, a name well applying to the beautiful stretch of country which lies below Mount Masius between the Khabour and the Euphrates. Here, about midway in this district, is a small village still called Harran. It was celebrated among the Romans, under the name of Charrae, as the scene of the defeat of Crassus. Haran in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE ha'-ran (charan; Charhran): The city where Terah settled on his departure from Ur (Gen 11:31 f); whence Abram set out on his pilgrimage of faith to Canaan (Gen 12:1 ff). It was probably "the city of Nahor" to which Abraham's servant came to find a wife for Isaac (Gen 24:10 ff). Hither came Jacob when he fled from Esau's anger (Gen 27:43). Here he met his bride (Gen 29:4), and in the neighboring pastures he tended the flocks of Laban. It is one of the cities named by Rabshakeh as destroyed by the king of Assyria (2 Ki 19:12; Isa 37:12). Ezekiel speaks of the merchants of Haran as trading with Tyre (27:23). The name appears in Assyro-Babalonian as Charran, which means "road"; possibly because here the trade route from Damascus joined that from Nineveh to Carchemish. It is mentioned in the prism inscription of Tiglath-pileser I. It was a seat of the worship of Sin, the moon-god, from very ancient times. A temple was built by Shalmaneser II. Haran seems to have shared in the rebellion of Assur (763 BC, the year of the solar eclipse, June 15). The privileges then lost were restored by Sargon II. The temple, which had been destroyed, was rebuilt by Ashurbanipal, who was here crowned with the crown of Sin. Haran and the temple suffered much damage in the invasion of the Umman-Manda (the Medes). Nabuna`id restored temple and city, adorning them on a lavish scale. Near Haran the Parthians defeated and slew Crassus (53 BC), and here Caracalla was assassinated (217 AD). In the 4th century it was the seat of a bishopric; but the cult of the moon persisted far into the Christian centuries. The chief temple was the scene of heathen worship until the 11th century, and was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th. The ancient city is represented by the modern Charran to the Southeast of Edessa, on the river Belias, an affluent of the Euphrates. The ruins lie on both sides of the stream, and include those of a very ancient castle, built of great basaltic blocks, with square columns, 8 ft. thick, which support an arched roof some 30 ft. in height. Remains of the old cathedral are also conspicuous. No inscriptions have yet been found here, but a fragment of an Assyrian lion has been uncovered. A well nearby is identified as that where Eliezer met Rebekah. In Acts 7:2,4, the King James Version gives the name as Charran. Genesis 11:29 - And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife [was] Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran , the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. Genesis 12:4 - So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram [was] seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran . Genesis 12:5 - And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran ; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. Genesis 11:32 - And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran . Ezekiel 27:23 - Haran , and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, [and] Chilmad, [were] thy merchants. 2 Kings 19:12 - Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; [as] Gozan, and Haran , and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which [were] in Thelasar? Isaiah 37:12 - Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, [as] Gozan, and Haran , and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which [were] in Telassar? Genesis 11:26 - And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran . Genesis 27:43 - Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran ; 1 Chronicles 23:9 - The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran , three. These [were] the chief of the fathers of Laadan. Genesis 11:28 - And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. Genesis 28:10 - And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran . Genesis 29:4 - And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence [be] ye? And they said, Of Haran [are] we. Genesis 11:27 - Now these [are] the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran ; and Haran begat Lot. 1 Chronicles 2:46 - And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bare Haran , and Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez. Genesis 11:31 - And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran , and dwelt there.

THE city of Nabulus, one of the most ancient in Israel, is also one of the most interesting. It lies in the beautiful Valley of Shechem, which is about 500 yards wide, between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim. The place was originally called Shechem, and it was the first spot where Abraham pitched his tent after entering Canaan. It was a prominent place in the days of the Patriarchs, and is frequently mentioned in the Book of Genesis. It became, four centuries later, the first great gathering place of the Israelites after their occupation of the Promised Land. (Josh. 8:30-35.) Shechem was assigned to the Levites, and made a city of refuge. It was the first capital of the kingdom of Israel. It was called by the Romans Neapolis, and the Arabs have corrupted this into Nabulus, its modern name. Near the city is the well at which the Saviour held his discourse with the woman of Samaria. Jacob's well and the tomb of Joseph are also close by in the valley. A small remnant of the ancient Samaritans dwell here still, despised and persecuted by their Mahommedan masters. - Ancient Geography

Shechem in Easton's Bible Dictionary shoulder. (1.) The son of Hamor the Hivite (Gen. 33:19; 34). (2.) A descendant of Manasseh (Num. 26:31; Josh. 17:2). (3.) A city in Samaria (Gen. 33:18), called also Sichem (12:6), Sychem (Acts 7:16). It stood in the narrow sheltered valley between Ebal on the north and Gerizim on the south, these mountains at their base being only some 500 yards apart. Here Abraham pitched his tent and built his first altar in the Promised Land, and received the first divine promise (Gen. 12:6, 7). Here also Jacob "bought a parcel of a field at the hands of the children of Hamor" after his return from Mesopotamia, and settled with his household, which he purged from idolatry by burying the teraphim of his followers under an oak tree, which was afterwards called "the oak of the sorcerer" (Gen. 33:19; 35:4; Judg. 9:37). (See MEONENIM ¯T0002483.) Here too, after a while, he dug a well, which bears his name to this day (John 4:5, 39-42). To Shechem Joshua gathered all Israel "before God," and delivered to them his second parting address (Josh. 24:1-15). He "made a covenant with the people that day" at the very place where, on first entering the land, they had responded to the law from Ebal and Gerizim (Josh. 24:25), the terms of which were recorded "in the book of the law of God", i.e., in the roll of the law of Moses; and in memory of this solemn transaction a great stone was set up "under an oak" (comp. Gen. 28:18; 31:44-48; Ex. 24:4; Josh. 4:3, 8, 9), possibly the old "oak of Moreh," as a silent witness of the transaction to all coming time. Shechem became one of the cities of refuge, the central city of refuge for Western Israel (Josh. 20:7), and here the bones of Joseph were buried (24:32). Rehoboam was appointed king in Shechem (1 Kings 12:1, 19), but Jeroboam afterwards took up his residence here. This city is mentioned in connection with our Lord's conversation with the woman of Samaria (John 4:5); and thus, remaining as it does to the present day, it is one of the oldest cities of the world. It is the modern Nablus, a contraction for Neapolis, the name given to it by Vespasian. It lies about a mile and a half up the valley on its southern slope, and on the north of Gerizim, which rises about 1,100 feet above it, and is about 34 miles north of Jerusalem. It contains about 10,000 inhabitants, of whom about 160 are Samaritans and 100 Jews, the rest being Christians and Mohammedans. The site of Shechem is said to be of unrivalled beauty. Stanley says it is "the most beautiful, perhaps the only very beautiful, spot in Central Israel." Gaza, near Shechem, only mentioned 1 Chr. 7:28, has entirely disappeared. It was destroyed at the time of the Conquest, and its place was taken by Shechem. (See SYCHAR ¯T0003542.) Shechem in Fausset's Bible Dictionary ("shoulder", or "upper part of the back just below the neck"); explained as if the town were on the shoulder of the heights dividing the waters that flow toward the Mediterranean on the W. and to the Jordan on the E.; or on a shoulder or ridge connected with Mounts Ebal and Gerizim. Also called SICHEM, SYCHEM, and SYCHAR (John 4:5; Joshua 20:7; Judges 9:9; 1 Kings 12:25). Mount Gerizim is close by (Judges 9:7) on the southern side, Mount Ebal on the northern side. These hills at the base are but 500 yards apart. Vespasian named it Neapolis; coins are extant with its name "Flavia Neapolis"; now Nablus by corruption. The situation is lovely; the valley runs W. with a soil of rich, black, vegetable mold, watered by fountains, sending forth numerous streams flowing W.; orchards of fruit, olive groves, gardens of vegetables, and verdure on all sides delight the eye. On the E. of Gerizim and Ebal the flue plain of Mukhna stretches from N. to S. Here first in Canaan God appeared to Abraham (Genesis 12:6), and here he pitched his tent and built an altar under the oak or terebinth (not "plain") of Moreh; here too Jacob re-entered the promised land (Genesis 33:18- 19), and "bought a parcel of a field where he had spread his tent," from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, and bequeathed it subsequently to Joseph (Genesis 48:22; Joshua 24:32; John 4:5); a dwelling place, whereas Abraham's only purchase was a burial place. It lay in the rich plain of the Mukhna, and its value was increased by the well Jacob dug there. Joshua made "Shechem in Mount Ephraim" one of the six cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7). The suburbs in our Lord's days reached nearer the entrance of the valley between Gerizim and Ebal than now; for the narrative in John 4:30; John 4:35, implies that the people could be seen as they came from the town toward Jesus at the well, whereas Nablus now is more than a mile distant, and cannot be seen from that point. Josephus (B. J. 3:7, section 32) says that more than 10,000 of the inhabitants were once destroyed by the Romans, implying a much larger town and population than at present. (See DINAH; HAMOR.) frontJACOB on the massacre by Simeon and Levi, Genesis 34.) Under Abraham's oak at Shechem Jacob buried the family idols and amulets (Genesis 35:1-4). Probably too "the strange gods" or "the gods of the stranger" were those carried away by Jacob's sons from Shechem among the spoils (Genesis 35:2; Genesis 34:26-29). The charge to "be clean and change garments" may have respect to the recent slaughter of the Shechemites, which polluted those who took part in it (Blunt, Undesigned Coincidences). Shechem was for a time Ephraim's civil capital. as Shiloh was its religious capital (Judges 9:2; Judges 21:19; Joshua 24:1-25-26; 1 Kings 12:1). At the same "memorial terebinth" at Shechem the Shechemites made Abimelech king (Judges 9:6). Jotham's parable as to the trees, the vine, the fig, and the bramble, were most appropriate... Shechem in Hitchcock's Bible Names part; portion; back early in the morning Shechem in Naves Topical Bible 1. Also called SICHEM and SYCHEM, a district in the central part of the land of Canaan Abraham lives in Ge 12:6 The flocks and herds of Jacob kept in Ge 37:12-14 Joseph buried in Jos 24:32 Jacob buried in Ac 7:16; with Ge 50:13 -2. Also called SYCHAR, a city of refuge in Mount Ephraim Jos 20:7; 21:21; Jud 21:19 Joshua assembled the tribes of Israel at, with all their elders, chiefs, and judges, and presented them before the Lord Jos 24:1-28 Joshua buried at Jos 24:30-32 Abimelech made king at Jud 8:31; 9 Rehoboam crowned at 1Ki 12:1 Destroyed by Abimelech Jud 9:45 Rebuilt by Jeroboam 1Ki 12:25 Men of, killed by Ishmael Jer 41:5 Jesus visits; disciples made in Joh 4:1-42 -3. Son of Hamor; seduces Jacob's daughter; killed by Jacob's sons Ge 33:19; 34; Jos 24:32; Jud 9:28 Called SYCHEM Ac 7:16 -4. Ancestor of the Shechemites Nu 26:31; Jos 17:2 -5. Son of Shemidah 1Ch 7:19 Shechem in Smiths Bible Dictionary (back or shoulder). 1. An important city in central Israel, in the valley between mounts Ebal and Gerizim, 34 miles north of Jerusalem and 7 miles southeast of Samaria. Its present name, Nablus, is a corruption of Neapolis, which succeeded the more ancient Shechem, and received its new name from Vespasian. On coins still extant it is called Flavia Neapolis. The situation of the town is one of surpassing beauty. It lies in a sheltered valley, protected by Gerizim on the south and Ebal on the north. The feet of these mountains, where they rise from the town, are not more than five hundred yards apart. The bottom of the valley is about 1800 feet above the level of the sea, and the top of Gerizim 800 feet higher still. The sit of the present city, which was also that of the Hebrew city, occurs exactly on the water-summit; and streams issuing from the numerous springs there flow down the opposite slopes of the valley, spreading verdure and fertility in every direction. Travellers vie with each other in the language which they employ to describe the scene that here bursts so suddenly upon them on arriving in spring or early summer at this paradise of the holy land. "The whole valley," says Dr. Robinson, "was filled with gardens of vegetables and orchards of all kinds of fruits, watered by fountains which burst forth in various parts and flow westward in refreshing streams. it came upon us suddenly like a scene of fairy enchantment. We saw nothing to compare with it in all Israel." The allusions to Shechem in the Bible are numerous, and show how important the place was in Jewish history. Abraham, on his first migration to the land of promise, pitched his tent and built an altar under the oak (or terebinth) of Moreh at Shechem. "The Canaanite was then in the land;" and it is evident that the region, if not the city, was already in possession of the aboriginal race. See Ge 12:6 At the time of Jacob's arrival here, after his sojourn in Mesopotamia, Ge 33:18; 34 Shechem was a Hivite city, of which Hamor, the father of Shechem, was the headman. it was at this time that the patriarch purchased from that chieftain "the parcel of the field" which he subsequently bequeathed, as a special patrimony, to his son Joseph. Ge 33:19; Jos 24:32; Joh 4:5 The field lay undoubtedly on the rich plain of the Mukhna, and its value was the greater on account of the well which Jacob had dug there, so as not to be dependent on his neighbors for a supply of water. In the distribution of the land after its conquest by the Hebrews, Shechem fell to the lot of Ephraim, Jos 20:7 but was assigned to the Levites, and became a city of refuge. Jos 21:20,21 It acquired new importance as the scene of the renewed promulgation of the law, when its blessings were heard from Gerizim and its curses from Ebal, and the people bowed their heads and acknowledged Jehovah as their king and ruler. De 27:11; Jos 24:23-25 it was here Joshua assembled the people, shortly before his death, and delivered... Shechem in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE she'-kem (shekhem, "shoulder"; Suchem, he Sikima, ta Sikima, etc.; the King James Version gives "Sichem" in Gen 12:6; and "Sychem" in Acts 7:16): 1. Historical: This place is first mentioned in connection with Abraham's journey from Haran. At the oak of Moreh in the vicinity he reared his first altar to the Lord in Israel (Gen 12:6 f). It was doubtless by this oak that Jacob, on his return from Paddan-aram, buried "the strange (the American Standard Revised Version "foreign") gods" (Gen 35:4). Hither he had come after his meeting with Esau (Gen 33:18). Eusebius, in Onomasticon, here identifies Shechem with Shalem; but see SHALEM. To the East of the city Jacob pitched his tent in a "parcel of ground" which he had bought from Hamor, Shechem's father (Gen 33:19). Here also he raised an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel, "God, the God of Israel" (Gen 33:20). Then follows the story of Dinah's defilement by Shechem, son of the city's chief; and of the treacherous and terrible vengeance exacted by Simeon and Levi (Genesis 34). To the rich pasture land near Shechem Joseph came to seek his brethren (Gen 37:12 ff). It is mentioned as lying to the West of Michmethath (el-Makhneh) on the boundary of Manasseh (Josh 17:7). It was in the territory of Ephraim; it was made a city of refuge, and assigned to the Kohathite Levites (Josh 20:7; 21:21). Near the city the Law was promulgated (Dt 27:11; Josh 8:33). When his end was approaching Joshua gathered the tribes of Israel here and addressed to them his final words of counsel and exhortation (chapter 24). Under the oak in the neighboring sanctuary he set up the stone of witness (24:26). The war of conquest being done, Joseph's bones were buried in the parcel of ground which Jacob had bought, and which fell to the lot of Joseph's descendants (24:33). Abimelech, whose mother was a native of the city, persuaded the men of Shechem to make him king (Jdg 9:1-6), evidently seeking a certain consecration from association with "the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem." Jotham's parable was spoken from the cliff of Gerizim overhanging the town (Jdg 9:7 ff). After a reign of three years Abimelech was rejected by the people. He captured the city, razed it to the foundations, and sowed it with salt. It was then the seat of Canaanite idolatry, the temple of Baal-berith being here (Jdg 9:4,46). In the time of the kings we find that the city was once more a gathering-place of the nation. It was evidently the center, especially for the northern tribes; and hither Rehoboam came in the hope of getting his succession to the throne confirmed (1 Ki 12:1; 2 Ch 10:1). At the disruption Jeroboam fortified the city and made it his residence (2 Ch 10:25; Ant, VIII, viii, 4). The capital of the Northern Kingdom was moved, however, first to Tirzah and then to Samaria, and Shechem declined in political importance. Indeed it is not named again in the history of the monarchy. Apparently there were Israelites in it after the captivity, some of whom on their way to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem met a tragic fate at the hands of Ishmael ben Nethaniah (Jer 41:5 ff). It became the central city of the Samaritans, whose shrine...

Joshua 17:2 - There was also [a lot] for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem , and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these [were] the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families. 1 Chronicles 7:28 - And their possessions and habitations [were], Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof: Genesis 34:24 - And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 1 Chronicles 6:67 - And they gave unto them, [of] the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; [they gave] also Gezer with her suburbs, Judges 21:19 - Then they said, Behold, [there is] a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly [in a place] which [is] on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem , and on the south of Lebonah. Genesis 34:20 - And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, Numbers 26:31 - And [of] Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and [of] Shechem , the family of the Shechem ites: Judges 9:2 - Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem , Whether [is] better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, [which are] threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I [am] your bone and your flesh. Joshua 20:7 - And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. Joshua 24:1 - And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem , and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. Judges 9:31 - And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem ; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. Judges 9:49 - And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put [them] to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. Judges 9:7 - And when they told [it] to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem , that God may hearken unto you. Genesis 33:18 - And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem , which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. Joshua 21:21 - For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, [to be] a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs, Judges 9:1 - And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, 1 Kings 12:25 - Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. Genesis 35:4 - And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem . Judges 9:18 - And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem , because he [is] your brother;) Jeremiah 41:5 - That there came certain from Shechem , from Shiloh, and from Samaria, [even] fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring [them] to the house of the LORD. Judges 9:24 - That the cruelty [done] to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem , which aided him in the killing of his brethren. Judges 9:3 - And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He [is] our brother. Genesis 34:13 - And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: Joshua 17:7 - And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that [lieth] before Shechem ; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah. Genesis 34:8 - And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. Genesis 37:14 - And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem . Judges 9:41 - And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem . Psalms 60:6 - God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem , and mete out the valley of Succoth. Psalms 108:7 - God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem , and mete out the valley of Succoth. Genesis 34:26 - And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem 's house, and went out.

HEBRON is one of the most ancient cities in the world still existing, and it is in this respect the rival of Damascus. It was originally called Kirjath-Arba, " The city of Arba." It was afterwards known as Mamre. The vicinity was long the favorite camping-ground of the patriarchs. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelt here, and it was here that Abraham bought a tomb - the Cave of Machpelah. After the occupation of the land by the Israelites, Hebron became one of the cities of refuge. It was David's first capital. The town was situated in a narrow valley - the "Valley of the Eschol; " whose sides are clothed with vineyards, groves of olives, and other fruit trees. The valley runs from north to south, and the main quarter of the town, surmounted by the lofty walls of the great mosque, lies partly on the eastern slope. The houses are stone, solidly built, flat-roofed, and have each one or two little cupolas, such as are seen in several parts of Israel. The town has no walls; but the main streets opening on the principal roads have gates. The population is about 8000, of which about 600 are Jews; the remainder Turks and Arabs. - Ancient Geography

Hebron in Easton's Bible Dictionary a community; alliance. (1.) A city in the south end of the valley of Eshcol, about midway between Jerusalem and Beersheba, from which it is distant about 20 miles in a straight line. It was built "seven years before Zoan in Egypt" (Gen. 13:18; Num. 13:22). It still exists under the same name, and is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Its earlier name was Kirjath-arba (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 14:15; 15:3). But "Hebron would appear to have been the original name of the city, and it was not till after Abraham's stay there that it received the name Kirjath-arba, who [i.e., Arba] was not the founder but the conqueror of the city, having led thither the tribe of the Anakim, to which he belonged. It retained this name till it came into the possession of Caleb, when the Israelites restored the original name Hebron" (Keil, Com.). The name of this city does not occur in any of the prophets or in the New Testament. It is found about forty times in the Old. It was the favorite home of Abraham. Here he pitched his tent under the oaks of Mamre, by which name it came afterwards to be known; and here Sarah died, and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Gen. 23:17- 20), which he bought from Ephron the Hittite. From this place the patriarch departed for Egypt by way of Beersheba (37:14; 46:1). It was taken by Joshua and given to Caleb (Josh. 10:36, 37; 12:10; 14:13). It became a Levitical city and a city of refuge (20:7; 21:11). When David became king of Judah this was his royal residence, and he resided here for seven and a half years (2 Sam. 5:5); and here he was anointed as king over all Israel (2 Sam. 2:1-4, 11; 1 Kings 2:11). It became the residence also of the rebellious Absalom (2 Sam. 15:10), who probably expected to find his chief support in the tribe of Judah, now called el-Khulil. In one part of the modern city is a great mosque, which is built over the grave of Machpelah. The first European who was permitted to enter this mosque was the Prince of Wales in 1862. It was also visited by the Marquis of Bute in 1866, and by the late Emperor Frederick of Germany (then Crown-Prince of Prussia) in 1869. One of the largest oaks in Israel is found in the valley of Eshcol, about 3 miles north of the town. It is supposed by some to be the tree under which Abraham pitched his tent, and is called "Abraham's oak." (See OAK ¯T0002758.) (2.) The third son of Kohath the Levite (Ex. 6:18; 1 Chr. 6:2, 18). (3.) 1 Chr. 2:42, 43. (4.) A town in the north border of Asher (Josh. 19:28). Hebron in Fausset's Bible Dictionary 1. Third son of Kohath; younger brother of Amram, father of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 6:18). The family of Hebronites sprang from him. In the 40th year of David's reign 2,700 of them, at Jazer in Gilead, "mighty men of valor," superintended for the king the two and a half tribes "in matters pertaining to God and the king" (1 Chronicles 26:30- 32); Jerijah was their chief. Also Hashabiah and 1,700 Hebronites were officers "in all the Lord's business and the king's service" on the W. of Jordan. 2. 1 Chronicles 2:42-43. 3. A city in the hill country of Judah, originally Kirjath (the city of) Arba (Joshua 15:13; Joshua 14:15). "Arba was a great man among the Anakims, father of Anak." (See Joshua 21:11; Judges 1:10.) Twenty Roman miles S. of Jerusalem, and twenty N. of Beersheba. Rivaling Damascus in antiquity. Built seven years before Zoan in Egypt (Numbers 13:22). Well known at Abram's entrance into Canaan, 3,780 years ago (Genesis 42:18). Hebron was the original name, changed to Kirjath Arba during Israel's sojourn in Egypt, and restored by Caleb, to whom it was given at the conquest of Israel (Genesis 23:2; Joshua 14:13-15). The third resting place of Abram; Shechem was the first, Bethel the second. Near Hebron was the cave of Machpelah, where he and Sarah were buried. Now El Khalil, the house of "the friend" of God. Over the cave is now the mosque El Haran, from which all but Muslims are excluded jealously (though the Prince of Wales was admitted), and in which probably lie the remains of Abraham and Isaac, and possibly Jacob's embalmed body, brought up in state from Egypt (Genesis 50:13). Near it was the oak or terebinth, a place of pagan worship. Hebron was called for a time also Mamre, from Abram's ally (Genesis 23:19; Genesis 35:27). It was made a Levite city of refuge (Joshua 21:11-13). Still there is an oak bearing Abraham's name, 23 ft. in girth, and covering 90 ft. space in diameter. In Hebron, David reigned over Judah first for seven and a half years (2 Samuel 5:5). Here Absalom set up the standard of revolt. On the return from Babylon some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kirjath Arba (Nehemiah 11:25). After various vicissitudes it fell into the Moslems' hands in A.D. 1187, and has continued so ever since. It is picturesquely situated in a narrow valley running from N. to S. (probably that of Eshcol, whence the spies got the great cluster of grapes, Numbers 13:23), surrounded by rocky hills, still famed for fine grapes. S. of the town in the bottom of the valley is a tank, 130 ft. square by 50 deep. At the western end is another, 85 ft. long by 55 broad. Over the former probably David hung Ishbosheth's murderers (2 Samuel 4:12). 4. A town in Asher; spelled in Hebrew differently from the former Hebron. Abdon is read in many manuscripts Hebron in Hitchcock's Bible Names society; friendship Hebron in Naves Topical Bible 1. A city of the territory of the tribe of Asher Jos 19:28 -2. A city of the tribe of Judah, south of Jerusalem When built Nu 13:22 Fortified 2Ch 11:10 Called KIRJATH-ARBA Ge 23:2 ARBA Ge 35:27; Jos 15:13 Abraham lived there and Sarah died at Ge 23:2 Hoham, king of, confederated with other kings of the Canaanites against Joshua Jos 10:3-39 Descendants of the Anakim live at Nu 13:22; Jos 11:21 Conquest of, by Caleb Jos 14:6-15; Jud 1:10,20 A city of refuge Jos 20:7; 21:11,13 David crowned king of Judah at 2Sa 2:1-11; 3 David crowned king of Israel at 2Sa 5:1-5 The burial place of Sarah Ge 23:2 The burial place of Abner 2Sa 3:32 The burial place of Ish-bosheth 2Sa 4:12 The conspirators against Ish-bosheth hanged at 2Sa 4:12 Absalom made king at 2Sa 15:9,10 Jews of the Babylonian captivity lived at Ne 11:25 Pool of 2Sa 4:12 -3. Son of Kohath Ex 6:18; Nu 3:19; 1Ch 6:2,18; 23:12,19 Hebron in Smiths Bible Dictionary (alliance). 1. The third son of Kohath, who was the second son of Levi. Ex 6:18; Nu 3:19; 1Ch 6:2,18; 23:12 He was the founder of a family of Hebronites, Nu 3:27; 26:58; 1Ch 26:23,30,31, or Bene-Hebron. 1Ch 15:9; 23:19 2. A city of Judah, Jos 15:54 situated among the mountains, Jos 20:7 20 Roman miles south of Jerusalem, and the same distance north of Beersheba. Hebron is one of the most ancient cities in the world still existing; and in this respect it is the rival of Damascus. It was a well-known town when Abraham entered Canaan, 3800 years ago. Ge 13:18 Its original name was Kirjath-arba, Jud 1:10 "the city of Arba;" so called from Arba the father of Anak. Jos 15:13,14; 21:13 Sarah died at Hebron; and Abraham then bought from Ephron the Hittite the field and cave of Machpelah, to serve as a family tomb Ge 23:2-20 The cave is still there, and the massive walls of the Haram or mosque, within which it lies, form the most remarkable object in the whole city. Abraham is called by Mohammedans el-Khulil, "the Friend," i.e. of God, and this is the modern name of Hebron. Hebron now contains about 5000 inhabitants, of whom some fifty families are Jews. It is picturesquely situated in a narrow valley, surrounded by rocky hills. The valley runs from north to south; and the main quarter of the town, surmounted by the lofty walls of the venerable Haram, lies partly on the eastern slope. Ge 37:14 comp. Gene 23:19 About a mile from the town, up the valley, is one of the largest oak trees in Israel. This, say some, is the very tree beneath which Abraham pitched his tent, and it still bears the name of the patriarch. 3. One of the towns in the territory of Asher, Jos 19:28 probably Ebdon or Abdom. Hebron in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE he'-brun (chebhron, "league" or "confederacy"; Chebron): One of the most ancient and important cities in Southern Israel, now known to the Moslems as el Khalil (i.e. Khalil er Rahman, "the friend of the Merciful," i.e. of God, a favorite name for Abraham; compare Jas 2:23). The city is some 20 miles South of Jerusalem, situated in an open valley, 3,040 ft. above sea-level. I. History of the City. Hebron is said to have been rounded before Zoan (i.e. Tanis) in Egypt (Nu 13:22); its ancient name was Kiriath-arba, probably meaning the "Four Cities," perhaps because divided at one time into four quarters, but according to Jewish writers so called because four patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Adam were buried there. According to Josh 15:13 it was so called after Arba, the father of Anak. 1. Patriarchal Period: Abram came and dwelt by the oaks of MAMRE (which see), "which are in Hebron" Gen (13:18); from here he went to the rescue of Lot and brought him back after the defeat of Chedorlaomer (14:13 f); here his name was changed to Abraham (17:5); to this place came the three angels with the promise of a son (18:1 f); Sarah died here (23:2), and for her sepulcher Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah (23:17); here Isaac and Jacob spent much of their lives (35:27; 37:14); from here Jacob sent Joseph to seek his brethren (37:14), and hence, Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt (46:1). In the cave of Machpelah all the patriarchs and their wives, except Rachel, were buried (49:30 f; 50:13). 2. Times of Joshua and Judges: The spies visited Hebron and near there cut the cluster of grapes (Nu 13:22 f). HOHAM (which see), king of Hebron, was one of the five kings defeated by Joshua at Beth-horon and slain at Makkedah (Josh 10:3 f). Caleb drove out from Hebron the "three sons of Anak" (Josh 14:12; 15:14); it became one of the cities of Judah (Josh 15:54), but was set apart for the Kohathite Levites (Josh 21:10 f), and became a city of refuge (Josh 20:7). One of Samson's exploits was the carrying of the gate of Gaza "to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron" (Jdg 16:3). 3. The Days of the Monarchy: David, when a fugitive, received kindness from the people of this city (1 Sam 30:31); here Abner was treacherously slain by Joab at the gate (2 Sam 3:27), and the sons of Rimmon, after their hands and feet had been cut off, were hanged "beside the pool" (2 Sam 4:12). After the death of Saul, David was here anointed king (2 Sam 5:3) and reigned here 7 1/2 years, until he captured Jerusalem and made that his capital (2 Sam 5:5); while here, six sons were born to him (2 Sam 3:2). In this city Absalom found a center for his disaffection, and repairing there under pretense of performing a vow to Yahweh, he raised the standard of revolt (2 Sam 15:7 f). Josephus mistakenly places here the dream of Solomon (Ant., VIII, ii, 1) which occurred at Gibeon (1 Ki 3:4). Hebron was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Ch 11:10). 4. Later History: Probably during the captivity Hebron came into the hands of Edom, though it appears to have been colonized by returning Jews (Neh 11:25); it was recovered from Edom by Simon Maccabeus (1 Macc 5:65; Josephus, Ant, XII, viii, 6). In the first great revolt... Bethel

Bethel in Easton's Bible Dictionary house of God. (1.) A place in Central Israel, about 10 miles north of Jerusalem, at the head of the pass of Michmash and Ai. It was originally the royal Canaanite city of Luz (Gen. 28:19). The name Bethel was at first apparently given to the sanctuary in the neighbourhood of Luz, and was not given to the city itself till after its conquest by the tribe of Ephraim. When Abram entered Canaan he formed his second encampment between Bethel and Hai (Gen. 12:8); and on his return from Egypt he came back to it, and again "called upon the name of the Lord" (13:4). Here Jacob, on his way from Beersheba to Haran, had a vision of the angels of God ascending and descending on the ladder whose top reached unto heaven (28:10, 19); and on his return he again visited this place, "where God talked with him" (35:1-15), and there he "built an altar, and called the place El- beth-el" (q.v.). To this second occasion of God's speaking with Jacob at Bethel, Hosea (12:4,5) makes reference. In troublous times the people went to Bethel to ask counsel of God (Judg. 20:18, 31; 21:2). Here the ark of the covenant was kept for a long time under the care of Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron (20:26-28). Here also Samuel held in rotation his court of justice (1 Sam. 7:16). It was included in Israel after the kingdom was divided, and it became one of the seats of the worship of the golden calf (1 Kings 12:28-33; 13:1). Hence the prophet Hosea (Hos. 4:15; 5:8; 10:5, 8) calls it in contempt Beth-aven, i.e., "house of idols." Bethel remained an abode of priests even after the kingdom of Israel was desolated by the king of Assyria (2 Kings 17:28, 29). At length all traces of the idolatries were extirpated by Josiah, king of Judah (2 Kings 23:15-18); and the place was still in existence after the Captivity (Ezra 2:28; Neh. 7:32). It has been identified with the ruins of Beitin, a small village amid extensive ruins some 9 miles south of Shiloh. (2.) Mount Bethel was a hilly district near Bethel (Josh. 16:1; 1 Sam. 13:2). (3.) A town in the south of Judah (Josh. 8:17; 12:16). Bethel in Fausset's Bible Dictionary ("house of God".) 1. Abram pitched his tent on a mountain E. of Bethel, abounding in pasture (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3). The city, near the place, then bore the Canaanite name Luz. Bethel is the name given by anticipation to the place; appropriately so, as Abram virtually made it the "house of God." It was expressly so named by Jacob, when he had the vision of the heavenly ladder, on his way from his father at Beersheba to Harsh (Genesis 28:19; Genesis 31:13). He set up a pillar, and anointed it with oil, to mark the place where God spoke with him. Bethel, the place, is expressly distinguished from Luz, the old Canaanite city. "Jacob called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of that city was called Luz at the first" (Joshua 16:1-2). The naming of Bethel Jacob repeated more publicly on his return home, 20 years later, with his family purified of idols, when God again appeared to him, and confirmed his change of name to Israel (Genesis 35:1-15; Genesis 32:28). Bethel belonged by lot to Benjamin, but was falcon by Ephraim (Bethel being on his southern border) through the treachery of an inhabitant (Judges 1:22-26). It was about 12 miles N. of Jerusalem. In Judges 20:26 translate for "the house of God" Bethel. During the civil war with Benjamin the tribes took the ark thither to consult God (compare 1 Samuel 10:3). It was one of Samuel's towns of circuit for judging (1 Samuel 7:16). One of Jeroboam's two sanctuaries for the calf worship, selected doubtless because of its religious associations (1 Kings 12-13). There the prophet from Judah foretold the overthrow of the calf altar by Josiah. Abijah, king of Judah, took Bethel from Jeroboam (2 Chronicles 13:19), but it was soon recovered by Israel. Under Ahab the Baal worship at Samaria and Jezreel drew off attention from the calf worship at Bethel. This accounts for a school of prophets of Jehovah being there in Elijah's time (2 Kings 2:2-3). The existence of "bears," two, near the town, implies that Bethel was then less frequented (2 Kings 2:23- 25). Under Jehu, who restored the calf worship, and Jeroboam II his great grandson, Bethel comes again into prominence (2 Kings 10:29). Bethel became the king's chapel" (sanctuary) "the king's court" ("house of the kingdom") (Amos 7:13; Amos 3:14-15). More altars, besides the original one were erected. "Summer and winter houses" too, and "great houses" and "houses of ivory." After the overthrow of Israel, the king of Assyria sent one of the Israelite priests to settle at Bethel, and teach the new settlers from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, "the manner of the god of the land," and "how they should fear Jehovah" (2 Kings 17:27- 28). Josiah, as foretold, defiled the altar with dead men's bones, but disturbed not the sepulchre of the prophet of Judab when he discerned its title. It was ordered by God that the votaries of the calf worship at Bethel never dared to violate the sepulchre and title of the prophet who denounced their idol. The worship of Jehovah and of the calves had been all along strangely blended. (See BETHAVEN.) Among those returning from captivity were men of Bethel (Ezra 2:28; Nehemiah 7:32; Nehemiah 11:31.) The ruins, covering three or four acres, still bear a like name, Beitin, on a low bill, between two wadies, which unite in the main valley of es-Suweinit, toward the S.E. Bethel still abounds in stones such as Jacob used for his pillow and afterward for a sanctuary. On the round mount S.E. of Bethel. Abram doubtless built the altar, and afterwards stood with Lot when giving him his choice of the land (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:10). E. of this mount stands the ruin Tel er Rijmah, "the mound of the heap," answering to Ai or Hai. Ritter makes Medinet Gai answer to Ai. 2. A town in southern Judah (Joshua 12:16; 1 Samuel 30:27). Bethel in Joshua 19:4 answers to Chesil in Joshua 15:30. Bethuel, 1 Chronicles 4:30. Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho under the curse (1 Kings 16:34). Bethel in Hitchcock's Bible Names the house of God Bethel in Naves Topical Bible 1. A city north of Jerusalem The ancient city adjacent to, and finally embraced in, was called Luz Jos 18:13; Jud 1:23-26 Abraham estblishes an altar at Ge 12:8; 13:3,4 The place where Jacob saw the vision of the ladder Ge 28:10-22; 31:13; Ho 12:4 And builds an altar at Ge 35:1-15 Deborah dies at Ge 35:8 Conquered by Joshua Jos 8:17; with 12:16 Conquered by the household of Joseph Jud 1:22-26 Allotted to Benjamin Jos 18:13,22 Court of justice held at By Deborah Jud 4:5 By Samuel 1Sa 7:16 Tabernacle at, and called HOUSE OF GOD Jud 20:18,31; 21:2 Jeroboam institutes idolatrous worship at 1Ki 12:25-33; 2Ki 10:29 Idolatry at Jer 48:13; Am 4:4 Shalmanezer sends a priest to 2Ki 17:27,28 Prophecies against the idolatrous altars at 1Ki 13:1-6,32; 2Ki 23:4,15-20; Am 3:14 The school of prophets at 2Ki 2:3 The young men of, mock Elisha 2Ki 2:23,24 People of, return from Babylon Ezr 2:28; Ne 7:32 Prophecies against Am 5:5 -2. A city in the south of territory of the tribe of Judah 1Sa 30:27 -3. A mountain 1Sa 13:2 Bethel in Smiths Bible Dictionary (the house of God) well known city and holy place of central Israel, about 12 mlles north of Jerusalem. If we are to accept the precise definition of Ge 12:8 the name of Bethel would appear to have existed at this spot even before the arrival of Abram in Canaan. Ge 12:8; 13:3,4 Bethel was the scene of Jacob's vision. Ge 28:11-19; 31:13 Jacob lived there. Ge 35:1-8 The original name was Luz. Jud 1:22,23 After the conquest Bethel is frequently heard of. In the troubled times when there was no king in Israel, it was to Bethel that the people went up in their distress to ask counsel of God. Jud 20:18,26,31; 21:2 Authorized Version, "house of God." Here was the ark of the covenant. Jud 20:26- 28; 21:4 Later it is named as one of the holy cities to which Samuel went on circuit. 1Sa 7:16 Here Jeroboab placed one of the two calves of gold. Toward the end of Jeroboam's life Bethel fell into the hands of Judah. 2Ch 13:19 Elijah visited Bethel, and we hear of "sons of the prophets" as resident there. 2Ki 2:2,3 But after the destruction of Baal worship by Jehu Bethel comes once more into view. 2Ki 10:29 After the desolation of the northern kingdom by the king of Assyria, Bethel still remained an abode of priests. 2Ki 17:27,28 In later times Bethel is named only once under the scarcely-altered name of Beitin. Its ruins still lie on the righthand side of the road from Jerusalem to Nablus. 2. A town in the south part of Judah, named in Jos 12:16 and 1Sam 30:27 In Jos 15:30; 19:4; 1Ch 4:29,30 the place appears under the name of CHESIL, BETHUL and BETHUEL. Hiel the Bethelite is recorded as the rebuilder of Jericho. 1Ki 16:34 3. In Jos 16:1 and 1Sam 13:2 Mount Bethel, a hilly section near Beth-el, is referred to. Bethel in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE beth'-el (beth-'el; Baithel and oikos theou, literally, "house of God"): (1) A town near the place where Abraham halted and offered sacrifice on his way south from Shechem. 1. Identification and Description: It lay West of Ai (Gen 12:8). It is named as on the northern border of Benjamin (the southern of Ephraim, Josh 16:2), at the top of the ascent from the Jordan valley by way of Ai (Josh 18:13). It lay South of Shiloh (Jdg 21:19). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 12 Roman miles from Jerusalem, on the road to Neapolis. It is represented by the modern Beitin, a village of some 400 inhabitants, which stands on a knoll East of the road to Nablus. There are four springs which yield supplies of good water. In ancient times these were supplemented by a reservoir hewn in the rock South of the town. The surrounding country is bleak and barren, the hills being marked by a succession of stony terraces, which may have suggested the form of the ladder in Jacob's famous dream. 2. The Sanctuary: The town was originally called Luz (Gen 28:19, etc.). When Jacob came hither on his way to Paddan-aram we are told that he lighted upon "the place" (Gen 28:11. Hebrew). The Hebrew maqom, like the cognate Arabic maqam, denotes a sacred place or sanctuary. The maqom was doubtless that at which Abraham had sacrificed, East of the town. In the morning Jacob set up "for a pillar" the stone which had served as his pillow (Gen 28:18; see PILLAR, matstsebhah), poured oil upon it and called the name of the place Bethel, "house of God"; that is, of God whose epiphany was for him associated with the pillar. This spot became a center of great interest, lending growing importance to the town. In process of time the name Luz disappeared, giving place to that of the adjoining sanctuary, town and sanctuary being identified. Jacob revisited the place on his return from Paddan-aram; here Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried under "the oak" (Gen 35:6 f). Probably on rising ground East of Bethel Abraham and Lot stood to view the uninviting highlands and the rich lands of the Jordan valley (Gen 13:9 ff). 3. History: Bethel was a royal city of the Canaanites (Josh 12:16). It appears to have been captured by Joshua (8:7), and it was allotted to Benjamin (Josh 18:22). In Jdg 1:22 ff it is represented as held by Canaanites, from whom the house of Joseph took it by treachery (compare 1 Ch 7:28). Hither the ark was brought from Gilgal (Jdg 2:1, Septuagint). Israel came to Bethel to consult the Divine oracle (Jdg 20:18), and it became an important center of worship (1 Sam 10:3). The home of the prophetess Deborah was not far off (Jdg 4:5). Samuel visited Bethel on circuit, judging Israel (1 Sam 7:16). With the disruption of the kingdom came Bethel's greatest...

2 Kings 23:15 - Moreover the altar that [was] at Bethel , [and] the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, [and] stamped [it] small to powder, and burned the grove. 1 Chronicles 7:28 - And their possessions and habitations [were], Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof: 2 Kings 2:23 - And he went up from thence unto Bethel : and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 2 Chronicles 13:19 - And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof. 1 Samuel 10:3 - Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel , one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 1 Kings 12:33 - So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, [even] in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense. Joshua 8:17 - And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel , that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel. 1 Samuel 13:2 - Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [whereof] two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel , and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 2 Kings 23:4 - And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel . Joshua 12:9 - The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which [is] beside Bethel , one; Joshua 12:16 - The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel , one; Genesis 31:13 - I [am] the God of Bethel , where thou anointedst the pillar, [and] where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. Joshua 18:13 - And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which [is] Bethel , southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that [lieth] on the south side of the nether Bethhoron. 1 Kings 13:4 - And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel , that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. Joshua 16:1 - And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel , Genesis 28:19 - And he called the name of that place Bethel : but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first. Amos 7:10 - Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. Amos 7:13 - But prophesy not again any more at Bethel : for it [is] the king's chapel, and it [is] the king's court. Joshua 8:9 - Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people. Amos 3:14 - That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel : and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. Jeremiah 48:13 - And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence. 1 Samuel 7:16 - And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel , and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 2 Kings 23:19 - And all the houses also of the high places that [were] in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke [the LORD] to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel . Genesis 35:1 - And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel , and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 1 Kings 13:32 - For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel , and against all the houses of the high places which [are] in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. Judges 4:5 - And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 2 Kings 2:3 - And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know [it]; hold ye your peace. 2 Kings 23:17 - Then he said, What title [is] that that I see? And the men of the city told him, [It is] the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel . Joshua 7:2 - And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which [is] beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel , and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 1 Kings 13:1 - And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel : and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

The Ancient Nile River

Nile River in Easton's Bible Dictionary dark; blue, not found in Scripture, but frequently referred to in the Old Testament under the name of Sihor, i.e., "the black stream" (Isa. 23:3; Jer. 2:18) or simply "the river" (Gen. 41:1; Ex. 1:22, etc.) and the "flood of Egypt" (Amos 8:8). It consists of two rivers, the White Nile, which takes its rise in the Victoria Nyanza, and the Blue Nile, which rises in the Abyssinian Mountains. These unite at the town of Khartoum, whence it pursues its course for 1,800 miles, and falls into the Mediterranean through its two branches, into which it is divided a few miles north of Cairo, the Rosetta and the Damietta branch. (See EGYPT ¯T0001137.) Nile River in Fausset's Bible Dictionary Not so named in the Bible; related to Sanskrit Nilah, "blue." The Nile has two names: the sacred name Hapi, or Hapi-mu, "the abyss of waters," Hp-ro-mu, "the waters whose source is hidden"; and the common name Yeor Aor, Aur (Atur): both Egyptian names. Shihor, "the black river," is its other Bible name, Greek Melas or Kmelas, Latin Melo, darkened by the fertilizing soil which it deposits at its overflow (Jeremiah 2:18). The hieroglyphic name of Egypt is Kam, "black." Egyptians distinguished between Hapi-res, the "southern Nile" of Upper Egypt, and Hapi-meheet, the "northern Nile" of Lower Egypt. Hapi-ur, "the high Nile," fertilizes the land; the Nile low brought famine. The Nile god is painted red to represent the inundation, but blue at other times. An impersonation of Noah (Osburn). Famine and plenty are truly represented as coming up out of the river in Pharaoh's dream (Genesis 41). Therefore they worshipped it, and the plague on its waters, was a judgment on that idolatry (Exodus 7:21; Psalm 105:29). (See EGYPT; EXODUS.) The rise begins at the summer solstice; the flood is two months later, after the autumnal equinox, at its height pouring through cuttings in the banks which are higher than the rest of the soil and covering the valley, and lasting three months. (Amos 8:8; Amos 9:5; Isaiah 23:3). The appointed S.W. bound of Israel (Joshua 13:3; 1 Chronicles 13:5; 2 Chronicles 9:26; Genesis 15:18). 1 Kings 8:65 "stream" (nachal, not "river".) Its confluent is still called the Blue river; so Nilah means "darkblue," or "black." The plural "rivers" is used for the different mouths, branches, and canals of the Nile. The tributaries are further up than Egypt (Psalm 78:44; Exodus 7:18-20; Isaiah 7:18; Isaiah 19:6; Ezekiel 29:3; Ezekiel 30:12). "The stream (nachal) of Egypt" seems distinct (Isaiah 27:12), now "wady el Arish" (where was the frontier city Rhino-corura) on the confines of Israel and Egypt (Joshua 15:4; Joshua 15:47, where for "river" should stand "stream," nachal)). Smith's Bible Dictionary suggests that nachal) is related to the Nile and is that river; but the distinctness with which nachal) is mentioned, and not as elsewhere Sihor, or "river," Ye'or, forbids the identification. "The rivers of Ethiopia" (Isaiah 18:1-2), Cush, are the Atbara, the Astapus or Blue river, between which two rivers Meroe (the Ethiopia meant in Isaiah 18) lies, and the Astaboras or White Nile; these rivers conjoin in the one Nile, and wash down the soil along their banks from Upper Egypt, and deposit it on Lower Egypt; compare "whose land (Upper Egypt) the rivers have spoiled" or "cut up" or "divided." The Nile is called "the sea" (Isaiah 19:5), for it looks a sea at the overflow; the Egyptians still call it El Bahr "the sea" (Nahum 3:8). Its length measured by its course is probably 3,700 miles, the longest in the world. Its bed is cut through layers of nummulitic limestone (of which the pyramids of Ghizeh are built, full of nummulites, which the Arabs call "Pharaoh's beans"), sandstone under that, breccia verde under that, azoic rocks still lower, with red granite and syenite rising through all the upper strata... Nile River in Naves Topical Bible Called THE RIVER Isa 11:15; 19:5-10; Eze 29:4; Am 8:8 -Called SIHOR Isa 23:3; Jer 2:18 Nile River in Smiths Bible Dictionary (blue, dark), the great river of Egypt. The word Nile nowhere occurs in the Authorized Version but it is spoken of under the names of Sihor [SIHOR] and the "river of Egypt." Ge 15:18 We cannot as yet determine the length of the Nile, although recent discoveries have narrowed the question. There is scarcely a doubt that its largest confluent is fed by the great lakes on and south of the equator. It has been traced upward for about 2700 miles, measured by its course, not in a direct line, and its extent is probably over 1000 miles more. (The course of the river has been traced for 3300 miles. For the first 1800 miles (McClintock and Strong say 2300) from its mouth it receives no tributary; but at Kartoom, the capital of Nubia, is the junction of the two great branches, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, so called from the color of the clay which tinges their waters. The Blue Nile rises in the mountains of Abyssinia and is the chief source of the deposit which the Nile brings to Egypt. The White Nile is the larger branch. Late travellers have found its source in Lake Victoria Nyanza, three degrees south of the equator. From this lake to the mouth of the Nile the distance is 2300 miles in a straight line --one eleventh the circumference of the globe. From the First Cataract, at Syene, the river flows smoothly at the rate of two or three miles an hour with a width of half a mile. to Cairo. A little north of Cairo it divides into two branches, one flowing to Rosetta and the other to Damietta, from which place the mouths are named. See Bartlett's "Egypt and Israel," 1879. The great peculiarity of the river is its annual overflow, caused by the periodical tropical rains. "With wonderful clock-like regularity the river begins to swell about the end of June, rises 24 feet at Cairo between the 20th and 30th of September and falls as much by the middle of May. Six feet higher than this is devastation; six feet lower is destitution." --Bartlett. So that the Nile increases... Nile River in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE nil (Neilos, meaning not certainly known; perhaps refers to the color of the water, as black or blue. This name does not occur in the Hebrew of the Old Testament or in the English translation): I. THE NILE IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 1. Description 2. Geological Origin 3. The Making of Egypt 4. The Inundation 5. The Infiltration II. THE NILE IN HISTORY 1. The Location of Temples 2. The Location of Cemeteries 3. The Damming of the Nile 4. Egyptian Famines III. THE NILE IN RELIGION 1. The Nile as a God 2. The Nile in the Osirian Myth 3. The Celestial Nile A river of North Africa, the great river of Egypt. The name employed in the Old Testament to designate the Nile is in the Hebrew ye'or, Egyptian aur, earlier, atur, usually translated "river," also occasionally "canals" (Ps 78:44; Ezek 29:3 ff). In a general way it means all the water of Egypt. The Nile is also the principal river included in the phrase nahare kush, "rivers of Ethiopia" (Isa 18:1). Poetically the Nile is called yam, "sea" (Job 41:31; Nah 3:8; probably Isa 18:2), but this is not a name of the river. shichor, not always written fully, has also been interpreted in a mistaken way of the Nile (see SHIHOR). Likewise nahar mitsrayim, "brook of Egypt," a border stream in no way connected with the Nile, has sometimes been mistaken for that river. See RIVER OF EGYPT. I. The Nile in Physical Geography. 1. Description: The Nile is formed by the junction of the White Nile and the Blue Nile in latitude 15 degree 45' North and longitude 32 degree 45' East. The Blue Nile rises in the highlands of Abyssinia, latitude 12 degree 30' North, long. 35 degree East, and flows Northwest 850 miles to its junction with the White North. The White Nile, the principal branch of the North, rises in Victoria Nyanza, a great lake in Central Africa, a few miles North of the equator, long. 33 degree East (more exactly the Nile may be said to rise at the headwaters of the Ragera River, a small stream on the other side of the lake, 3 degree South of the equator), and flows North in a tortuous channel, 1,400 miles to its junction with the Blue Nile. From this junction-point the Niles flows North through Nubia and Egypt 1,900 miles and empties into the Mediterranean Sea, in latitude 32 degree North, through 2 mouths, the Rosetta, East of Alexandria, and the Damietta, West of Port Said. There were formerly 7 mouths scattered along a coast-line of 140 miles. 2. Geological Origin: The Nile originated...

Ancient Memphis

Hosea 9:6 - For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant [places] for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns [shall be] in their tabernacles.

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Unearth the rich tapestry of biblical history with our extensive collection of over 1000 meticulously curated Bible Maps and Images . Enhance your understanding of scripture and embark on a journey through the lands and events of the Bible.

• Ancient city layouts
• Historic routes of biblical figures
• Architectural wonders of the Holy Land
• Key moments in biblical history

Start Your Journey Today!

Click here to access our Bible Maps and Images

Table of Contents

About bible geography, about bible maps, ancient empire maps, bible map collections, bible map series, biblical map projects, geographical maps, interactive bible maps, intertestamental color maps, new testament color maps, new testament maps, old testament color maps, old testament maps.

Header Text

Footer Text

• The Landscapes of Palestine
• The Rulers of Palestine
• The Climate of Palestine
• Major Jewish Religious Festivals
• What is the New Testament?
• Who wrote the Gospels?
• English Translations of the New Testament
• John's mission foretold
• The birth of John
• John's message
• John begins baptising
• John criticises Herod
• Was John the promised Elijah?
• Jesus's birth announced
• Mary & Joseph go to Bethlehem
• The birth of Jesus
• Shepherds visit the infant
• Jewish religious rituals
• Wise men visit Jerusalem
• The holy family flees to Egypt
• The holy family returns to Nazareth
• Jesus grows up
• Jesus starts his ministry
• Jesus is tempted
• Jesus returns to Galilee
• Jesus goes back to Nazareth
• Jesus travels to Jerusalem
• Jesus passes through Samaria
• Jesus performs healing miracles
• Jesus teaches in Capernaum
• Jesus's teachings on a hillside
• Jesus upsets the Pharisees
• Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee
• Jesus heals & teaches in Jerusalem
• Jesus teaches how to receive the Holy Spirit
• Jesus journeys among the Gentiles
• Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee
• Jesus in Tyre and Sidon
• Who is Jesus?
• Jesus is changed on the slopes of Mount Hermon
• Jesus pays the Temple Tax
• Jesus claims God's personal name
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan
• The Parable of the Prodigal Son
• Lazarus, Come out!
• Jesus's entry into Jerusalem
• Jesus curses a fig tree
• Jesus heralds the end of the sacrificial system
• Jesus in Jerusalem during Passover week
• The Parable of the Sheep & the Goats
• Paying taxes to Caesar
• Jesus is betrayed
• The Last Supper
• Jesus crosses the Kidron Valley
• Jesus is arrested
• Jesus is taken to the Praetorium
• Jesus is tried by Pilate
• The death of Judas
• Jesus is executed by crucifixion
• The Pharisees mount a guard on the tomb
• Jesus rises from the tomb
• Jesus appears to his followers
• Jesus is taken into God's presence
• Jesus appears to Peter, James & Paul
• Who were Jesus's followers?
• The believers are filled with the Holy Spirit
• Peter & John heal a crippled man
• The believers share their possessions
• Opposition in Jerusalem
• Stephen is killed & the believers are scattered
• Philip's Journeys
• Peter's Journeys
• Peter hands over the leadership to James
• The Gentile Church at Antioch
• Saul's Early Life
• Saul persecutes the believers
• The beginning of Saul's ministry
• Saul & Barnabas in Antioch & Jerusalem
• Paul starts his 1st Missionary Journey
• Paul, Barnabas & Mark in Cyprus
• Paul, Barnabas & Mark sail to Pamphylia
• Paul & Barnabas travel inland
• Paul & Barnabas in Iconium
• Paul & Barnabas in Lystra
• Paul & Barnabas return to Perga
• Paul & Barnabas return to Antioch in Syria
• Paul & Barnabas attend the Council of Jerusalem
• Paul & Barnabas take the decision to Antioch
• Paul starts his 2nd Missionary Journey
• Paul travels to Troas
• Paul sails across to Europe
• Paul arrives in Philippi
• Paul travels to Amphipolis & Apollonia
• Paul in Thessalonica
• Paul in Berea
• Paul in Athens
• Paul in Corinth
• Paul returns to Jerusalem
• Paul starts his 3rd Missionary Journey
• The Ephesians are filled with the Holy Spirit
• The silversmiths riot in Ephesus
• Paul travels to Corinth
• Paul returns to Macedonia
• Eutychus falls from a window in Troas
• Paul leaves for Assos
• Paul sails to Miletus
• Paul visits Cos and Rhodes
• Paul visits Philip in Caesarea
• Paul meets violent opposition in Jerusalem
• Paul addresses the crowds
• Paul in Caesarea
• Paul appeals to Emperor Nero
• Paul sets sail for Rome
• Paul is shipwrecked
• Paul in Malta
• Paul heads for Rome
• An Introduction to Paul's Letters
• Paul's Letter to Galatia
• Paul explains his personal background
• Alive in Christ
• Set free from Slavery
• The Fruit of the Spirit
• Paul's 1st Letter to Thessalonica
• Paul hopes to visit Thessalonica
• The Day of the Lord
• How Christians should behave
• Paul's 2nd Letter to Thessalonica
• The coming Day of the Lord
• Saved by the power of the Holy Spirit
• Paul's 1st Letter to Corinth
• The Holy Spirit helps us understand
• Temples of the Holy Spirit
• Advice on Marriage & Relationships
• Running the Race of Life
• The Lord's Supper
• Spiritual Gifts
• Worship in the early church
• The risen Lord Jesus appears to his followers
• Paul's 2nd Letter to Corinth
• Paul explains his revised plans
• Christ's Victory Parade & the New Covenant
• How God changes lives
• Paul's plans for the future
• Paul defends himself against criticism
• Paul's weaknesses
• Paul's Letter to Rome
• How to be put right with God
• God's covenant promise fulfilled
• New life in the power of the Holy Spirit
• Persecution by the Jews
• Paul's mission
• Paul's Letter to Ephesus
• God's secret plan
• The new life
• The armour of God
• Paul's Letter to Colossae
• Jesus is exactly like God
• Saved by Christ's death
• Practical advice for believers
• Paul's Letter to Philemon at Colossae
• Paul's Letter to Philippi
• To live is Christ
• Warnings about the Jewish Law
• Introduction to Paul's Pastoral Letters
• Paul's 4th Missionary Journey
• Paul's 1st Letter to Timothy in Ephesus
• Worship among the believers
• Holding onto the truth
• Paul's Letter to Titus in Crete
• Appointing Church Leaders
• Paul's 2nd Letter to Timothy at Ephesus
• The 'last days'
• Paul's Final Sacrifice
• The Letter to the Jewish believers
• God speaks through the prophets & Jesus
• Jesus is greater than Moses
• Jesus speaks to God for believers
• Jesus - a priest like Melchizedek
• The New Covenant agreement
• God does not want animal sacrifices
• Having faith
• Looking forwards, not backwards
• The General Letters: James, Jude, Peter & John
• The Letter of James to the Jewish believers
• Faith without actions is worthless
• The power of words
• The Letter of Jude to the Jewish believers
• Signs of 'the last days'
• The 1st Letter of Peter to the Jewish believers
• The living hope
• Living stones
• Baptism & the flood
• The 2nd Letter of Peter to the Jewish believers
• Peter speaks out against immorality
• The 'Last Days' & The 'Day of the Lord'
• Introduction to John & his 3 Letters
• The 1st Letter of John
• The 'logos' of God
• The 'new' commandment
• The last days
• Filled with the Holy Spirit
• Love one another
• God's love drives away fear
• The 2nd Letter of John
• The 3rd Letter of John
• Introduction to the Revelation of John
• John's Letter to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor
• The messages to the believers on the coastal plain
• The messages to the believers living inland
• John's vision of God's heavenly rule
• The satan's rebellion against God
• The downfall of Rome & it's empire
• The resurrection of the dead
• The final judgement
• The new heaven & the new earth
• Introduction to the Romano-Jewish world
• Roman Emperors in the New Testament
• Jewish Religious Leaders
• New Testament Languages
• Jewish & Greek Names
• Jewish & Roman Currency
• Jewish Nationalists
• The Romano-Jewish War
• Constantine & the Helena Churches
• Ecumenical Church Councils
• Palestine - A Land Bridge
• Routes across Palestine
• The River Jordan
• Ancient Israel
• The Message of the Old Testament
• Who wrote the Old Testament?
• Dating events in the Old Testament
• The Biblical account of Creation
• Adam's Journey from the Garden of Eden
• Cain is sent on a journey to the east of Eden
• Enoch founds a city in Mesopotamia
• Noah journeys to Aratta on the flood
• The Colonisation of the Ancient World
• The Tower of Babylonia

Abram's Journey to Canaan

• Abram settles in Canaan
• Abram travels north to rescue Lot
• The birth of Ishmael
• Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed
• Abraham journeys south and Isaac is born
• Abraham's sacrifice on Mount Moriah
• Abraham's wife dies at Hebron
• Abraham seeks a wife for Isaac
• Abraham dies at Hebron
• Isaac moves to Beersheba
• Jacob cheats Esau and flees to Mesopotamia
• Jacob returns to Canaan and meets Esau
• God blesses Jacob at Bethel
• Joseph is sold into slavery in Egypt
• Joseph becomes Vizier of Egypt
• Jacob's family joins Joseph in Egypt
• The Israelites in Egypt
• Prince Moses escapes to Midian
• Moses is called by God at Mt Sinai
• Egypt suffers ten plagues
• The Israelites flee from Egypt
• The Israelites cross the Sea of Reeds
• Moses receives the Ten Commandments
• Moses constructs the Ark of the Covenant
• The Israelites rebel against God
• The Israelites are counted
• Hardships encountered in the desert
• Moses sends spies into Canaan
• Korah leads a rebellion against Moses
• The Israelites remain at Kadesh Barnea
• The Israelites attempt to enter Canaan
• The Israelites journey north to Moab
• The Israelites defeat King Sihon and King Og
• Balaam blesses the Israelites
• The Israelites defeat the kings of Midian
• The boundaries of Canaan are agreed
• More laws and religious practices
• Moses dies at Mount Nebo
• The Israelites cross the River Jordan
• The Israelites conquer Jericho and Ai
• Joshua builds an altar at Mt Ebal
• Joshua is deceived by the Hivites
• Joshua conquers the Southern Cities
• Joshua embarks on the Northern Campaign
• Canaan is divided among the twelve tribes
• Six Cities of Refuge are set up
• Joshua says farewell
• The Israelites fight the remaining Canaanites
• God appoints inspirational leaders
• Israel under the 'judges': Othniel and Ehud
• Deborah and Barak defeat Sisera
• Gideon defeats the Midianites
• Abimelech becomes king
• Jephthah defeats the Ammonites
• Samson challenges the Philistines
• The conquest of Laish
• Gibeah is destroyed & the Benjamites punished
• Job is faced with adversity
• Ruth's journey to Bethlehem
• Samuel is taken to Shiloh
• The Ark of the Covenant is captured at Aphek
• The Ark is taken to Ashdod
• The Ark is moved to Ekron
• The Ark is returned to the Israelites
• Samuel administers justice from Ramah
• Saul's Journey to Kingship
• Jonathan demolishes the Philistine pillar at Geba
• Samuel condemns Saul at Gilgal
• David defeats Goliath of Gath
• Saul becomes jealous of David
• Samuel dies and is buried at Ramah
• David marries Abigail
• Saul is killed by the Philistines at Mt Gilboa
• David becomes King of Judah and Israel
• David captures Jerusalem
• The Ark of the Covenant is brought to Jerusalem
• David's victories over Israel's neighbours
• David's affair with Bathsheba
• Absalom's flight & his rebellion against David
• Further events during David's reign
• Solomon succeeds his father David
• Solomon's alliance with Egypt
• Solomon builds the Temple in Jerusalem
• Solomon builds a palace and furnishes the Temple
• The Ark of the Covenant is installed in the Temple
• Solomon rebuilds the cities of Israel
• Solomon's overseas trading expeditions
• The Queen of Sheba travels to Jerusalem
• Solomon builds a network of chariot cities
• Solomon turns away from God
• Solomon dies and the kingdom is divided
• Jeroboam builds temples to worship Baal
• Israel and Judah fight each other
• Israel descends into civil war
• Jezebel kills the prophets & Elijah escapes
• Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal
• Elijah organises the opposition to King Ahab
• King Ahab seizes Naboth's vineyard
• Elijah is taken up to heaven
• Elisha performs miracles and healings
• Elisha displays spiritual gifts
• Jehu races to Jezreel to depose King Joram
• King Joash repairs the Temple in Jerusalem
• Pharaoh Shoshenk I rescues Israel
• Jeroboam II restores the boundaries of Israel
• Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria invades Israel
• Israel falls & the exiles are led to Assyria
• Assyrians settle in Samaria
• King Hezekiah of Judah rebels against Assyria
• Sennacherib attacks and destroys Lachish
• Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Judah
• King Josiah ushers in religious reforms
• Assyria is conquered by the Babylonians
• King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Judah
• Jerusalem falls and the exile in Babylon begins
• Biblical sources relating to Judah in exile
• The middle years of exile (586-539BC)
• Daniel interprets dreams and riddles
• Daniel's vision of the 'Son of Man'
• Daniel's vision of the 'end times'
• The later years of exile & the return to Judah
• The completion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem
• A third group of exiles returns with Ezra
• A fourth group of exiles returns with Nehemiah
• Nehemiah becomes Governor of Judah
• The people renew their covenant with God
• Jerusalem's new walls are dedicated
• Esther becomes Queen of Persia
• Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king
• The origin of the Jewish festival of Purim
• What are the Psalms?
• Some psalms of King David
• Songs of Praise and Despair
• Later psalms ... and the earliest
• Some Memorable Sayings
• The wisdom of Solomon's words
• The Ways of the LORD
• Quarrelling, drinking & gossiping
• The Philosopher
• More wise words from the Philosopher
• More from the Lovers
• Love is as strong as death
• The Mourner
• The LORD's love and mercy continue
• Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets
• Introduction to the Book of Amos
• Amos denounces social injustice in Israel
• Introduction to Hosea's prophesy
• Hosea laments the unfaithfulness of Israel
• The Lord promises to punish Israel
• Introduction to Micah's prophesy
• Micah decries social injustice in Israel and Judah
• Introduction to the Book of Isaiah
• Prophecies written before the fall of Jerusalem
• Isaiah predicts a future golden age
• Isaiah reassures King Ahaz of God's support
• Troubled times and a glorious future kingdom
• Isaiah foresees the return of the exiles
• Isaiah warns of six catastrophes
• The final years before the fall of Judah
• Words of comfort after the fall of Jerusalem
• The LORD will help Israel
• God chooses Cyrus to save his people
• The suffering servant of the LORD
• Encouragement for those in exile
• Those returning are encouraged to follow the LORD
• The LORD's blessing will rest on Jerusalem
• Introduction to the Book of Jonah
• Jonah is thrown overboard to appease the gods
• Jonah arrives at Nineveh
• Introduction to the Book of Nahum
• Nahum predicts the fall of Nineveh
• Introduction to the Book of Jeremiah
• Jeremiah says idolatry will bring Judah's fall
• Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem
• Jeremiah calls for repentance
• Plots are hatched against Jeremiah
• Jeremiah is beaten and arrested
• Jeremiah is charged with treason
• Words of hope and consolation
• Miscellaneous flashbacks to earlier times
• Jeremiah attempts to leave Jerusalem
• Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians
• Gedeliah is murdered & Jeremiah goes to Egypt
• Jeremiah sees disaster in Egypt
• Messages to the surrounding nations
• Introduction to the Book of Zephaniah
• Zephaniah warns of the punishment of Judah
• Introduction to the Book of Habakkuk
• Habakkuk asks why the cruel Babylonians succeed
• Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel
• Ezekiel is called to be a prophet
• Ezekiel's vision of idolatry in the Temple
• Ezekiel speaks through prophesies and parables
• Ezekiel's message of impending doom
• Further prophecies & the fall of Jerusalem
• Hope for the future - New life for Israel
• The defeat of Gog and Magog
• Ezekiel's vision of the New Jerusalem
• Ezekiel sees the glory of the LORD
• The restored land of Israel
• Introduction to the prophecy of Obadiah
• Obadiah prophesies the resurgence of Israel
• Introduction to the Book of Haggai
• Haggai urges the exiles to re-build the Temple
• Introduction to the Book of Zechariah
• Zechariah has visions of horses & horns
• The vision of the measuring line
• Further visions about Jerusalem
• The LORD promises to restore Jerusalem
• Prophesies about the coming of the Messiah
• Prophesies about the Last Days
• An Introduction to the Book of Malachi
• Malachi announces the Day of the LORD
• God promises to send Elijah
• Introduction to the Book of Joel
• Joel foresees the Day of the LORD
• The Names of the God of Israel
• Foreign gods
• Pharaohs of the Old Testament
• The Old Testament & the Jewish Tanakh
• Sources of the History of Israel and Judah
• The Dead Sea Scrolls
• Between the Old and the New Testaments
• The Old Covenant & The New Covenant
• Who is my neighbour?
• Seeking revenge or Offering forgiveness?
• The Commandments - Impossible to keep?
• Was Jesus the Jewish Messiah?
• Was Jesus an outspoken rabbi or was he God?
• How to get right with God: Sacrifice or Faith?
• How to get right with God: By water or the Spirit?
• The power of the Holy Spirit - for everyone?
• A new nation? Or eternal life in God's kingdom?
• 1. From Cain & Abel to the Judges
• 2. From the Kingdom of Israel to the Exile
• 3. From the Exile to the Birth of Jesus
• 4. From the Birth to the Death of Jesus
• 5. From Acts of the Apostles to John's Revelation
• Find People
• Find Places
• Find Feature Articles
• Find Maps & Diagrams
• Find Photos
• What people are saying
• Privacy Statement
• 1 Jan. John 2:1-11
• 2 Jan. Luke 4:14-30
• 3 Jan. Luke 4:31-37
• 4 Jan. John 3:1-7
• 5 Jan. John 3:9-19
• 6 Jan. John 4:1-9
• 7 Jan. John 4:7-13
• 8 Jan. John 4:15-26
• 9 Jan. Mark 1:14-15
• 10 Jan. John 4:43-53
• 11 Jan. Luke 7:11-17
• 12 Jan. Mark 1:16-20
• 13 Jan. Mark 1:21-27
• 14 Jan. Mark 1:29-34
• 15 Jan. Mark 1:35-42
• 16 Jan. Matthew 4:25 - 5:10
• 17 Jan. Matthew 5:13
• 18 Jan. Matthew 5:14-16
• 19 Jan. Matthew 5:38-48
• 20 Jan. Matthew 6:5-13
• 21 Jan. Matthew 6:19-24
• 22 Jan. Matthew 7:1-5
• 23 Jan. Matthew 7:7-12
• 24 Jan. Matthew 7:13-14
• 25 Jan. Matthew 7:24-29
• 26 Jan. Mark 2:1-6
• 27 Jan. Mark 2:13-17
• 28 Jan. Mark 2:21-22
• 29 Jan. Mark 2:23-27
• 30 Jan. Mark 3:7-12
• 31 Jan. Mark 3:13-19
• 1 Feb. Mark 3:20-30
• 2 Feb. Mark 4:1-8
• 3 Feb. Mark 4:30-34
• 4 Feb. Mark 4:35-41
• 5 Feb. Mark 5:1-15
• 6 Feb. Mark 5:21-43
• 7 Feb. Mark 6:1-6
• 8 Feb. Mark 6:6-13
• 9 Feb. Mark 6:14-16
• 10 Feb. John 5:1-18
• 11 Feb. Luke 11:1-4
• 12 Feb. Luke 11:5-13
• 13 Feb. Luke 12:13-21
• 14 Feb. Mark 6:31-44
• 15 Feb. Mark 6:45-52
• 16 Feb. Mark 7:1-13
• 17 Feb. Mark 7:24-30
• 18 Feb. Mark 7:31-36
• 19 Feb. Mark 8:11-21
• 20 Feb. Mark 8:22-29
• 21 Feb. Mark 8:31-33
• 22 Feb. Mark 8:34-9:1
• 23 Feb. Mark 9:2-9
• 24 Feb. Mark 9:11-13
• 25 Feb. Mark 9:14-27
• 26 Feb. Mark 9:33-37
• 27 Feb. Matthew 17:24-27
• 28 Feb. Luke 17:11-19
• 1 Mar. John 7:14-24
• 2 Mar. John 7:37-44
• 3 Mar. John 7:44-52
• 4 Mar. John 8:12-20
• 5 Mar. John 8:21-59
• 6 Mar. John 9:1-34
• 7 Mar. Mark 9:42-43
• 8 Mar. Luke 10:25-37
• 9 Mar. Luke 15:11-24
• 10 Mar. Luke 15:25-32
• 11 Mar. Luke 17:20-21
• 12 Mar. John 10:1-10
• 13 Mar. John 10:11-18
• 14 Mar. John 10:22-33
• 15 Mar. John 10:40-11:11
• 16 Mar. John 11:17-44
• 17 Mar. John 11:45-54
• 18 Mar. Luke 19:1-10
• 19 Mar. Mark 11:1-7
• 20 Mar. Luke 19:28,35-40
• 21 Mar. Luke 19:41-44
• 22 Mar. John 12:12-19
• 23 Mar. Mark 11:12-14,20-24
• 24 Mar. Mark 11:15-19
• 25 Mar. Mark 11:27-33
• 26 Mar. Matthew 23:1-28
• 27 Mar. Matthew 25:31-46
• 28 Mar. Mark 12:1-12
• 29 Mar. Mark 12:13-17
• 30 Mar. Mark 12:18-27
• 31 Mar. Mark 12:28-34
• 1 Apr. Mark 12:41-44
• 2 Apr. Mark 14:1-9
• 3 Apr. Mark 14:12-16
• 4 Apr. John 13:1-15
• 5 Apr. John 13:21-30
• 6 Apr. John 14:1-11
• 7 Apr. John 14:15-26
• 8 Apr. John 15:1-11
• 9 Apr. Mark 14:22-25
• 10 Apr. Mark 14:26-31
• 11 Apr. Mark 14:32-42
• 12 Apr. Mark 14:43-52
• 13 Apr. John 18:12-14,19-24
• 14 Apr. Mark 14:53-59
• 15 Apr. Mark 14:60-65
• 16 Apr. Mark 14:66-72
• 17 Apr. Luke 23:1-11
• 18 Apr. John 18:28-40
• 19 Apr. Matthew 27:27-40
• 20 Apr. Matthew 27:62-66
• 21 Apr. Matthew 28:1-10
• 22 Apr. Luke 24:35-43
• 23 Apr. John 20:24-29
• 24 Apr. John 21:1-13
• 25 Apr. Matthew 28:16-20
• 26 Apr. Luke 24:45-53
• 27 Apr. 1 Corinthians 15:1-9
• 28 Apr. John 21:20-25
• 29 Apr. Acts 1:1-5
• 30 Apr. Acts 1:15-26
• 1 May. Acts 2:1-4
• 2 May. Acts 2:5-13
• 3 May. Acts 2:14-42
• 4 May. Acts 2:43-47
• 5 May. Acts 3:1-10
• 6 May. Acts 3:11-26
• 7 May. Acts 4:1-31
• 8 May. Acts 4:32-5:11
• 9 May. Acts 5:12-16
• 10 May. Acts 5:17-42
• 11 May. Acts 6:1-7
• 12 May. Acts 6:8-15
• 13 May. Acts 7:1-60
• 14 May. Acts 8:1,11:19-21
• 15 May. Acts 8:5-8
• 16 May. Acts 8:9-13
• 17 May. Acts 8:14-25
• 18 May. Acts 8:26-40
• 19 May. Acts 2:1-2,3:1-2,5:1-3,8:14-17
• 20 May. Acts 9:32-43
• 21 May. Acts 10:1-23
• 22 May. Acts 10:23-48
• 23 May. Acts 11:1-18
• 24 May. Acts 12:1-19
• 25 May. Acts 7:58-8:3,9:1-9
• 26 May. Acts 9:10-19
• 27 May. Galatians 1:11-2:2
• 28 May. Acts 11:19-26
• 29 May. Acts 11:27-13:3
• 30 May. Acts 13:1-5
• 31 May. Acts 13:4-12
• 1 June Acts 13:13
• 2 June. Acts 13:14-52
• 3 June. Acts 14:1-7
• 4 June. Acts 14:8-20
• 5 June. Acts 14:21-28
• 6 June. Acts 15:1-20
• 7 June. Acts 15:22-35
• 8 June. Acts 15:36-16:5
• 9 June. Acts 16:6-8
• 10 June. Acts 16:9-10
• 11 June. Acts 16:13-15
• 12 June. Acts 16:16-24
• 13 June. Acts 16:25-34
• 14 June. Acts 16:35-40
• 15 June. Acts 17:1
• 16 June. Acts 17:1-9
• 17 June. Acts 17:10-15
• 18 June. Acts 17:16-33
• 19 June. Acts 18:1-11
• 20 June. Acts 18:12-17
• 21 June. Acts 18:18-23
• 22 June. Acts 18:24-28
• 23 June. Acts 19:1-7
• 24 June. Acts 19:8-10
• 25 June. Acts 19:11-20
• 26 June. Acts 19:23-20:1
• 27 June. Acts 20:1-3
• 28 June. Acts 20:3-6
• 29 June. Acts 20:7-12
• 30 June. Acts 20:13-38
• 1 July Acts 21:1-7
• 2 July Acts 21:7-15
• 3 July Acts 21:17-26
• 4 July Acts 21:27-40
• 5 July Acts 22:1-29
• 6 July Acts 22:30-23:11
• 7 July Acts 23:12-32
• 8 July Acts 24:1-26
• 9 July Acts 24:27-25:12
• 10 July Acts 25:13-27
• 11 July Acts 26:1-32
• 12 July Acts 27:1-6
• 13 July Acts 27:7-20
• 14 July Acts 27:21-44
• 15 July Acts 28:1-10
• 16 July Acts 28:11-31
• 17 July Colossians 4:2-17
• 18 July 2 Peter 1:1-2,3:1-16
• 19 July Galatians 1:1-24
• 20 July Galatians 2:1-10
• 21 July Galatians 3:1-14
• 22 July Galatians 3:19-29
• 23 July Galatians 4:1-31
• 24 July Galatians 5:16-25,6:1-18
• 25 July 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
• 26 July 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
• 27 July 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
• 28 July 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
• 29 July 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
• 30 July 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
• 31 July 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
• 1 Aug. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-15
• 2 Aug. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
• 3 Aug. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
• 4 Aug. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
• 5 Aug. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
• 6 Aug. 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
• 7 Aug. 1 Corinthians 3:1-23
• 8 Aug. 1 Corinthians 4:1-17
• 9 Aug. 1 Corinthians 6:1-11
• 10 Aug. 1 Corinthians 7:1-16
• 11 Aug. 1 Corinthians 9:1-27
• 12 Aug. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17,11:20-34
• 13 Aug. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
• 14 Aug. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
• 15 Aug. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• 16 Aug. 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
• 17 Aug. 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
• 18 Aug. 1 Corinthians 15:1-26
• 19 Aug. 1 Corinthians 15:35-55
• 20 Aug. 1 Corinthians 16:1-24
• 21 Aug. 2 Corinthians 1:1-11
• 22 Aug. 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
• 23 Aug. 2 Corinthians 3:5-18
• 24 Aug. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
• 25 Aug. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
• 26 Aug. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
• 27 Aug. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
• 28 Aug. 2 Corinthians 6:1-18,7:1
• 29 Aug. 2 Corinthians 8:1-12
• 30 Aug. 2 Corinthians 11:16-33
• 31 Aug. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
• 1 Sept. 2 Corinthians 13:5-14
• 2 Sept. Romans 1:1-7
• 3 Sept. Romans 1:18-32
• 4 Sept. Romans 2:1-11
• 5 Sept. Romans 3:19-31
• 6 Sept. Romans 4:1-16
• 7 Sept. Romans 5:1-11
• 8 Sept. Romans 6:1-14
• 9 Sept. Romans 7:1-6
• 10 Sept. Romans 8:5-17
• 11 Sept. Romans 8:18-30
• 12 Sept. Romans 8:31-39
• 13 Sept. Romans 10:1-13
• 14 Sept. Romans 12:1-21
• 15 Sept. Romans 13:1-10
• 16 Sept. Romans 14:1-12
• 17 Sept. Romans 15:1-33
• 18 Sept. Romans 16:1-27
• 19 Sept. Ephesians 1:1-10
• 20 Sept. Ephesians 1:11-22
• 21 Sept. Ephesians 2:1-10
• 22 Sept. Ephesians 2:11-22
• 23 Sept. Ephesians 3:1-13
• 24 Sept. Ephesians 3:14-21
• 25 Sept. Ephesians 4:1-16
• 26 Sept. Ephesians 4:17-32
• 27 Sept. Ephesians 5:1-20
• 28 Sept. Ephesians 5:21-33
• 29 Sept. Ephesians 6:1-9
• 30 Sept. Ephesians 6:10-18
• 1 Oct. Ephesians 6:18-24
• 2 Oct. Colossians 1:1-14
• 3 Oct. Colossians 1:15-23
• 4 Oct. Colossians 2:1-15
• 5 Oct. Colossians 2:16-23
• 6 Oct. Colossians 3:1-17
• 7 Oct. Colossians 3:18-4:6
• 8 Oct. Colossians 4:7-18
• 9 Oct. Philemon 1:1-7
• 10 Oct. Philemon 1:7-25
• 11 Oct. Philippians 1:1-11
• 12 Oct. Philippians 1:12-26
• 13 Oct. Philippians 2:1-18
• 14 Oct. Philippians 3:1-21
• 15 Oct. Philippians 4:1-23
• 16 Oct. 1 Timothy 1:1-7
• 17 Oct. 1 Timothy 1:12-20
• 18 Oct. 1 Timothy 2:1-15
• 19 Oct. 1 Timothy 3:1-13
• 20 Oct. 1 Timothy 4:1-16
• 21 Oct. 1 Timothy 5:1-22
• 22 Oct. 1 Timothy 6:3-21
• 23 Oct. Titus 1:1-14
• 24 Oct. Titus 2:1-15
• 25 Oct. Titus 3:1-15
• 26 Oct. 2 Timothy 1:1-18
• 27 Oct. 2 Timothy 2:1-26
• 28 Oct. 2 Timothy 3:1-17
• 29 Oct. 2 Timothy 4:6-22
• 30 Oct. James 1:1-21
• 31 Oct. James 2:14-19,4:11-12
• 1 Nov. Jude 1:1-24
• 2 Nov. 1 Peter 1:1-11
• 3 Nov. 1 Peter 2:1-10
• 4 Nov. 2 Peter 1:1-19
• 5 Nov. 2 Peter 3:1-16
• 6 Nov. 1 John 1:5-9
• 7 Nov. 1 John 1:1-4
• 8 Nov. 1 John 2:7-17
• 9 Nov. 1 John 2:18-19
• 10 Nov. 1 John 2:20-29
• 11 Nov. 1 John 3:11-24
• 12 Nov. 1 John 4:7-20
• 13 Nov. 2 John 1:1-13
• 14 Nov. 3 John 1:1-15
• 15 Nov. Revelation 1:1-11
• 16 Nov. Revelation 2:1-7
• 17 Nov. Revelation 2:8-11
• 18 Nov. Revelation 2:12-17
• 19 Nov. Revelation 2:18-27
• 20 Nov. Revelation 3:1-6
• 21 Nov. Revelation 3:7-13
• 22 Nov. Revelation 3:14-22
• 23 Nov. Revelation 4:1-11
• 24 Nov. Revelation 5:1-14
• 25 Nov. Revelation 6:1-17
• 26 Nov. Revelation 7:1-17
• 27 Nov. Revelation 12:1-9
• 28 Nov. Revelation 17:1-18:19
• 29 Nov. Revelation 20:1-15
• 30 Nov. Revelation 21:1-27
• 1 Dec. Luke 1:5-20
• 2 Dec. Luke 1:26,39-56
• 3 Dec. Luke 1:57-80
• 4 Dec. Luke 3:1-16
• 5 Dec. Luke 3:15-20
• 6 Dec. Mark 1:1-8
• 7 Dec. Matt 3:13-17, John 1:28-34
• 8 Dec. Mark 6:14-29
• 9 Dec. Matthew 11:2-15
• 10 Dec. Luke 1:26-38
• 11 Dec. Luke 2:1-5
• 12 Dec. Luke 2:6-7
• 13 Dec. Matthew 1:1-17,22-23
• 14 Dec. Luke 2:8-14
• 15 Dec. Luke 2:15-20
• 16 Dec. Luke 2:21-24
• 17 Dec. Luke 2:25-35
• 18 Dec. Matthew 2:1-6
• 19 Dec. Matthew 2:7-9
• 20 Dec. Matthew 2:10-12
• 21 Dec. Matthew 2:13-14
• 22 Dec. Matthew 2:14-15
• 23 Dec. Matthew 2:16-18
• 24 Dec. Matthew 2:19-23
• 25 Dec. John 1:1-14
• 26 Dec. Luke 2:40-43
• 27 Dec. Luke 2:43-52
• 28 Dec. Hebrews 1:1-4
• 29 Dec. Hebrews 3:1-4:1
• 30 Dec. Hebrews 4:14-5:6
• 31 Dec. Hebrews 9:1-5,11-15
• 1 Jan. Genesis 1:1 - 2:3
• 2 Jan. Genesis 2:4-24
• 3 Jan. Genesis 2:8-17
• 4 Jan. Genesis 3:1-23
• 5 Jan. Genesis 4:1-16
• 6 Jan. Genesis 4:17-26
• 7 Jan. Genesis 6:5-22
• 8 Jan. Genesis 7:11-24
• 9 Jan. Genesis 8:1-17
• 10 Jan. Genesis 9:1-16
• 11 Jan. Genesis 10:11-12,32
• 12 Jan. Genesis 11:1-9
• 13 Jan. Genesis 11:27&37,12:1-7
• 14 Jan. Genesis 12:6,8-20
• 15 Jan. Genesis 13:1-18
• 16 Jan. Genesis 14:8-20
• 17 Jan. Genesis 15:1-11,17-21
• 18 Jan. Genesis 16:1-16
• 19 Jan. Genesis 17:1-16
• 20 Jan. Genesis 18:1-16
• 21 Jan. Genesis 19:1-26
• 22 Jan. Genesis 21:1-21
• 23 Jan. Genesis 22:1-18
• 24 Jan. Genesis 23:1-19
• 25 Jan. Genesis 24:1-61
• 26 Jan. Genesis 24:61-67
• 27 Jan. Genesis 25:1-11
• 28 Jan. Genesis 25:19-21,24-34
• 29 Jan. Genesis 26:1-9,12-15,23-25
• 30 Jan. Genesis 27:1-23,30-33,42-45
• 31 Jan. Genesis 28:10-22
• 1 Feb. Genesis 29:1-30
• 2 Feb. Genesis 29:31-35,30:1-12,17-24
• 3 Feb. Genesis 30:25-43
• 4 Feb. Genesis 31:1-21
• 5 Feb. Genesis 31:25-55
• 6 Feb. Genesis 32:1-8,13,22-30
• 7 Feb. Genesis 33:1-11
• 8 Feb. Genesis 33:12-20
• 9 Feb. Genesis 35:1-7
• 10 Feb. Genesis 35:9-15
• 11 Feb. Genesis 35:16-21,27-29
• 12 Feb. Genesis 37:1-11
• 13 Feb. Genesis 37:12-24
• 14 Feb. Genesis 37:25-34
• 15 Feb. Genesis 39:1-6
• 16 Feb. Genesis 39:6-22
• 17 Feb. Genesis 40:1-23
• 18 Feb. Genesis 41:1-14
• 19 Feb. Genesis 41:15-37
• 20 Feb. Genesis 41:39-57
• 21 Feb. Genesis 42:1-38
• 22 Feb. Genesis 43:1-33
• 23 Feb. Genesis 45:1-28
• 24 Feb. Genesis 46:1-7,28-30
• 25 Feb. Genesis 47:1-7,11-12,27-31
• 26 Feb. Genesis 50:1-26
• 27 Feb. Exodus 1:1-14
• 28 Feb. Exodus 1:15-22
• 1 Mar. Exodus 2:1-10
• 2 Mar. Exodus 2:11-15
• 3 Mar. Exodus 2:16-22
• 4 Mar. Exodus 3:1-10
• 5 Mar. Exodus 3:11-20
• 6 Mar. Exodus 4:1-17
• 7 Mar. Exodus 4:18-31
• 8 Mar. Exodus 5:1-21
• 9 Mar. Exodus 5:22-6:9
• 10 Mar. Exodus 7:14-21
• 11 Mar. Exodus 11:1-10
• 12 Mar. Exodus 12:1-17
• 13 Mar. Exodus 12:21-30
• 14 Mar. Exodus 12:29-40
• 15 Mar. Exodus 13:17-14:4
• 16 Mar. Exodus 14:5-31
• 17 Mar. Exodus 15:1-27
• 18 Mar. Exodus 16:1-18,31
• 19 Mar. Exodus 17:1-7
• 20 Mar. Exodus 17:8-16
• 21 Mar. Exodus 18:1-27
• 22 Mar. Exodus 19:1-11,14-19
• 23 Mar. Exodus 20:1-20
• 24 Mar. Exodus 21:1-23:17
• 25 Mar. Exodus 24:12-18
• 26 Mar. Exodus 25:1-26,33
• 27 Mar. Exodus 32:1-20
• 28 Mar. Exodus 32:21-35
• 29 Mar. Exodus 34:1-22,27-29
• 30 Mar. Exodus 40:1-21,33-36
• 31 Mar. Leviticus 1;1-14:4
• 1 Apr. Numbers 1:1-2:34
• 2 Apr. Numbers 10:11-11:35
• 3 Apr. Numbers 12:1-16
• 4 Apr. Numbers 13:1-33
• 5 Apr. Numbers 14:1-38
• 6 Apr. Numbers 14:41-45
• 7 Apr. Numbers 16:1-40
• 8 Apr. Numbers 16:41-17:11
• 9 Apr. Numbers 20:1-13
• 10 Apr. Numbers 20:14-21:4
• 11 Apr. Numbers 21:4-9
• 12 Apr. Numbers 21:10-20
• 13 Apr. Numbers 21:21-35
• 14 Apr. Numbers 22:1-24:25
• 15 Apr. Numbers 25:1-18
• 16 Apr. Numbers 26:1-65
• 17 Apr. Numbers 27:12-23
• 18 Apr. Numbers 31:1-16,25-31
• 19 Apr. Numbers 32:1-38
• 20 Apr. Numbers 34:1-18,35:1-12
• 21 Apr. Deuteronomy 8:1-11
• 22 Apr. Deuteronomy 34:1-12
• 23 Apr. Joshua 1:1-18
• 24 Apr. Joshua 2:1-24
• 25 Apr. Joshua 3:1-17
• 26 Apr. Joshua 4:1-24,5:1
• 27 Apr. Joshua 6:1-27
• 28 Apr. Joshua 7:1-26
• 29 Apr. Joshua 8:1-29
• 30 Apr. Joshua 8:30-35
• 1 May. Joshua 9:1-27
• 2 May. Joshua 10:1-28
• 3 May. Joshua 10:29-43
• 4 May. Joshua 11:1-14
• 5 May. Joshua 13:1-8,14:1-4,18:1
• 6 May. Joshua 20:1-9
• 7 May. Joshua 22:1-16,21,28,30-34
• 8 May. Joshua 23:1-16,24:14-16,22-27
• 9 May. Joshua 24:29-33
• 10 May. Judges 1:1-11,17-19
• 11 May. Judges 2:1-5,10-15
• 12 May. Judges 2:16-23
• 13 May. Judges 3:5-11
• 14 May. Judges 3:12-30
• 15 May. Judges 4:1-24,5:31
• 16 May. Judges 6:1-27
• 17 May. Judges 6:33-40
• 18 May. Judges 7:1-25
• 19 May. Judges 8:4-28
• 20 May. Judges 8:29-9:21
• 21 May. Judges 9:22-49
• 22 May. Judges 9:50-57
• 23 May. Judges 10:1-16
• 24 May. Judges 10:17-11:33
• 25 May. Judges 11:30-31,34-40
• 26 May. Judges 12:1-6
• 27 May. Judges 12:7-15,13:1
• 28 May. Judges 13:2-25
• 29 May. Judges 14:1-11
• 30 May. Judges 14:12-20
• 31 May. Judges 15:1-8
• 1 June Judges 15:9-20
• 2 June Judges 16:1-3
• 3 June Judges 16:4-15
• 4 June Judges 16:16-31
• 5 June Judges 17:1-13
• 6 June Judges 18:1-31
• 7 June Judges 19:1-30
• 8 June Judges 20:1-48
• 9 June Judges 21:1-23
• 10 June Job 1:1-22
• 11 June Job 2:1-13
• 12 June Job 3:11-13:8
• 13 June Job 38:1-42:17
• 14 June Ruth 1:1-22
• 15 June Ruth 2:1-23
• 16 June Ruth 3:1-18
• 17 June Ruth 4:1-17
• 18 June 1 Samuel 1:1-20
• 19 June 1 Samuel 1:21-2:2
• 20 June 1 Samuel 2:11-12,18-26
• 21 June 1 Samuel 3:1-21
• 22 June 1 Samuel 4:1-18
• 23 June 1 Samuel 5:1-12
• 24 June 1 Samuel 6:1-21,7:1
• 25 June 1 Samuel 7:2-17
• 26 June 1 Samuel 8:1-22
• 27 June 1 Samuel 9:1-27,10:1
• 28 June 1 Samuel 10:1-11
• 29 June 1 Samuel 10:13-25
• 30 June 1 Samuel 11:1-15
• 1 July 1 Samuel 12:1-25
• 2 July 1 Samuel 13:2-7
• 3 July 1 Samuel 13:8-15
• 4 July 1 Samuel 14:1-23
• 5 July 1 Samuel 14:24-46
• 6 July 1 Samuel 14:47-15:9
• 7 July 1 Samuel 15:10-31
• 8 July 1 Samuel 16:1-13
• 9 July 1 Samuel 16:14-23
• 10 July 1 Samuel 17:1-52
• 11 July 1 Samuel 17:57-58,18:1-16
• 12 July 1 Samuel 18:17-29
• 13 July 1 Samuel 19:1-18
• 14 July 1 Samuel 20:1-47
• 15 July 1 Samuel 21:1-9
• 16 July 1 Samuel 21:10-11,22:1-5
• 17 July 1 Samuel 22:6-19
• 18 July 1 Samuel 23:1-13
• 19 July 1 Samuel 24:1-22
• 20 July 1 Samuel 25:1-44
• 21 July 1 Samuel 26:1-25
• 22 July 1 Samuel 27:1-12
• 23 July 1 Samuel 28:1-20
• 24 July 1 Samuel 29:1-11
• 25 July 1 Samuel 30:1-31
• 26 July 1 Samuel 31:1-13
• 27 July 2 Samuel 1:1-16
• 28 July 2 Samuel 2:1-7
• 29 July 2 Samuel 2:8-17
• 30 July 2 Samuel 3:1,6-21
• 31 July 2 Samuel 3:22-32
• 1 Aug. 2 Samuel 4:1-12
• 2 Aug. 2 Samuel 5:1-12
• 3 Aug. 2 Samuel 5:17-25
• 4 Aug. 2 Samuel 6:1-23
• 5 Aug. 2 Samuel 7:1-17
• 6 Aug. 2 Samuel 8:1-14
• 7 Aug. 2 Samuel 9:1-13
• 8 Aug. 2 Samuel 10:1-14
• 9 Aug. 2 Samuel 11:1-17,26-27
• 10 Aug. 2 Samuel 12:1-18
• 11 Aug. 2 Samuel 12:24-31
• 12 Aug. 2 Samuel 13:1-39
• 13 Aug. 2 Samuel 14:21-33
• 14 Aug. 2 Samuel 15:1-12
• 15 Aug. 2 Samuel 15:13-37
• 16 Aug. 2 Samuel 16:1-22
• 17 Aug. 2 Samuel 17:1-29
• 18 Aug. 2 Samuel 18:1-33
• 19 Aug. 2 Samuel 19:1-18
• 20 Aug. 1 Kings 1:5-27
• 21 Aug. 1 Kings 1:28-53
• 22 Aug. 1 Kings 2:1-12
• 23 Aug. 1 Kings 2:13-46
• 24 Aug. 1 Kings 3:1-15
• 25 Aug. 1 Kings 3:16-28
• 26 Aug. 1 Kings 4:7,20-34
• 27 Aug. 1 Kings 5:1-18
• 28 Aug. 1 Kings 6:1-22,38
• 29 Aug. 1 Kings 7:1-12
• 30 Aug. 1 Kings 7:13-30,37-38,45-46
• 31 Aug. 1 Kings 8:1-11
• 1 Sept. 1 Kings 8:22-34,54-57,62-63
• 2 Sept. 1 Kings 9:1-9
• 3 Sept. 1 Kings 10:1-10,13
• 4 Sept. 1 Kings 11:1-13
• 5 Sept. 1 Kings 11:14-40
• 6 Sept. 1 Kings 11:42-12:20
• 7 Sept. 1 Kings 12:25-33
• 8 Sept. 1 Kings 14:1-20
• 9 Sept. 1 Kings 14:21-31
• 10 Sept. 1 Kings 15:1-16
• 11 Sept. 1 Kings 15:25-29,17-24
• 12 Sept. 1 Kings 16:1-22
• 13 Sept. 1 Kings 16:23-28
• 14 Sept. 1 Kings 16:29-33
• 15 Sept. 1 Kings 17:1-16
• 16 Sept. 1 Kings 17:17-24
• 17 Sept. 1 Kings 18:1-9,15-21
• 18 Sept. 1 Kings 18:22-40
• 19 Sept. 1 Kings 18:41-46
• 20 Sept. 1 Kings 19:1-18
• 21 Sept. 1 Kings 19:19-21
• 22 Sept. 1 Kings 20:1-22
• 23 Sept. 1 Kings 21:1-16
• 24 Sept. 1 Kings 21:17-29
• 25 Sept. 1 Kings 22:1-40
• 26 Sept. 2 Kings 1:1-18
• 27 Sept. 2 Kings 2:1-15
• 28 Sept. 2 Kings 3:1-27
• 29 Sept. 2 Kings 2:19-22,4:1-7
• 30 Sept. 2 Kings 4:8-37
• 1 Oct. 2 Kings 4:38-44
• 2 Oct. 2 Kings 5:1-15
• 3 Oct. 2 Kings 6:8-23
• 4 Oct. 2 Kings 8:7-15
• 5 Oct. 2 Kings 9:1-25
• 6 Oct. 2 Kings 9:30-37
• 7 Oct. 2 Kings 12:1-12
• 8 Oct. 2 Kings 13:1-9
• 9 Oct. 2 Kings 13:14-21
• 10 Oct. 2 Kings 14:23-29
• 11 Oct. 2 Kings 15:19-20,16:15-18
• 12 Oct. 2 Kings 17:1-18
• 13 Oct. 2 Kings 17:24-34
• 14 Oct. 2 Kings 18:1-8
• 15 Oct. 2 Kings 18:13-21,28-31,36
• 16 Oct. 2 Kings 19:1-10,19-20,32-36
• 17 Oct. 2 Kings 20:1-11
• 18 Oct. 2 Kings 20:12-21
• 19 Oct. 2 Kings 22:1-13
• 20 Oct. 2 Kings 23:1-4,8-11,21-25
• 21 Oct. 2 Kings 23:29-37
• 22 Oct. 2 Kings 24:1-7
• 23 Oct. 2 Kings 24:8-18
• 24 Oct. 2 Kings 25:1-21
• 25 Oct. Daniel 1:1-17
• 26 Oct. Daniel 3:9-15,19-20,24-30
• 27 Oct. Daniel 5:1-13,16-18,20-31
• 28 Oct. Daniel 6:1-11,16-17,19-23
• 29 Oct. Daniel 7:1-9,11-14,16-18
• 30 Oct. Daniel 11:1-9
• 31 Oct. Daniel 12:1-13
• 1 Nov. Ezra 1:1-11
• 2 Nov. Ezra 2:1-70
• 3 Nov. Ezra 3:1-13
• 4 Nov. Ezra 4:1-13,19-21
• 5 Nov. Ezra 5:1-9,6:1-4.13-22
• 6 Nov. Ezra 7:1-6,11-23,8:31-36
• 7 Nov. Nehemiah 1:1-4,2:1-10
• 8 Nov. Nehemiah 2:11-20
• 9 Nov. Nehemiah 4:1-23
• 10 Nov. Nehemiah 5:1-16,6:1-3,15-16
• 11 Nov. Nehemiah 8:1-12
• 12 Nov. Nehemiah 12:27-43
• 13 Nov. Esther 2:1-18
• 14 Nov. Esther 2:19-23
• 15 Nov. Esther 3:1-13
• 16 Nov. Esther 4:1-16
• 17 Nov. Esther 5:1-14
• 18 Nov. Esther 6:1-14
• 19 Nov. Esther 7:1-10
• 20 Nov. Esther 8:1-14
• 21 Nov. Esther 9:1-17,24-28
• 22 Nov. Amos 1:1-15,2:1-2
• 23 Nov. Amos 5:1-7,10-15
• 24 Nov. Hosea 1:1-11
• 25 Nov. Hosea 9:1-9
• 26 Nov. Micah 1:1-9
• 27 Nov. Micah 4:1-5,5:1-5
• 28 Nov. Isaiah 1:1-7,11-20
• 29 Nov. Isaiah 7:1-17,8:3-4
• 30 Nov. Isaiah 9:1-7
• 1 Dec. Isaiah 10:28-34,11:1-10
• 2 Dec. Isaiah 40:1-11
• 3 Dec. Isaiah 44:1-11
• 4 Dec. Isaiah 45:1-7,13-17
• 5 Dec. Isaiah 52:13-15,53:1-12
• 6 Dec. Isaiah 60:1-14
• 7 Dec. Nahum 2:1-13
• 8 Dec. Jeremiah 6:1-8,13-23
• 9 Dec. Jeremiah 7:1-11
• 10 Dec. Jeremiah 18:1-12
• 11 Dec. Jeremiah 19:1-13
• 12 Dec. Jeremiah 23:1-8
• 13 Dec. Jeremiah 26:1-15
• 14 Dec. Jeremiah 29:1-12
• 15 Dec. Zephaniah 1:1-13
• 16 Dec. Habakkuk 1:1-13
• 17 Dec. Ezekiel 1:1-17,22-28
• 18 Dec. Ezekiel 10:1-19,11:22-24
• 19 Dec. Ezekiel 17:1-10
• 20 Dec. Ezekiel 33:21-26,34:1-24
• 21 Dec. Ezekiel 37:1-14
• 22 Dec. Ezekiel 40:1-31
• 23 Dec. Ezekiel 43:1-12
• 24 Dec. Obadiah 1:1-11
• 25 Dec. Haggai 1:1-15
• 26 Dec. Zechariah 1:1-6
• 27 Dec. Zechariah 9:9-17
• 28 Dec. Zechariah 14:1-11
• 29 Dec. Malachi 3:1-5,4:1-6
• 30 Dec. Joel 2:1-11
• 31 Dec. Joel 2:25-32
• Bible Journey 2
• 22. The World of the Old Testament Journeys
• 23.The Journeys of Adam, Enoch, Noah & Abraham
• 24. The Journeys of Isaac, Jacob & Joseph
• 25. The Israelites journey from Egypt to Mt Sinai
• 26. The Journey continues from Sinai to Moab
• 27. The Israelites move into Canaan
• 28. The Israelites face continuing opposition
• 29. The Journeys of Ruth and Samuel
• 30. Israel becomes a kingdom under Saul and David
• 31. The Golden Age of Israel under King Solomon
• 32. The Divided Kingdom & Journey into Exile
• 33. Judah after the fall of Israel
• 34. Judah in exile in Babylonia
• 35. The Exiles return to Judah
• 36. Songs, Prayers & Memorable Sayings
• 37. The Philosopher, the Lover & the Mourner
• 38. Amos, Hosea & Micah criticize Israel
• 39. Isaiah predicts the fall of Israel & Judah
• 40. Isaiah offers comfort to those in exile
• 41. Jonah goes to Nineveh & Nahum condemns it
• 42. Jeremiah warns of the destruction of Jerusalem
• 43. Zephaniah & Habakkuk foretell Judah's fall
• 44. Ezekiel warns of the conquest of Jerusalem
• 45. Obadiah foretells the punishment of Edom
• 46. Haggai & Zechariah encourage re-building
• 47. Malachi & Joel await the Day of the LORD
• 48. The Jewish World of the Old Testament
• 49. Judaism and Christianity compared

Gen 11:10-26  The Book of Genesis lists many generations of Shem’s descendants including Terah and Abram (later called Abraham).  

The story then recommences nearly a thousand years after the building of the Tower of Babylonia when Abram is born in the Amorite kingdom of Mesopotamia , in c.1900BC.

Gen 11:28  Terah and his family (including his sons Abram and Nahor, and his grandson Lot) live at Ur in Mesopotamia (see Map 38 ).

Map 38  Abram's Journey to Canaan

Ur developed during the reign of the Sumerian kings (c.3000 – 2300BC) and had been a major city for hundreds of years when Abram was born. A ‘ziggurat’ (a stepped temple platform) about 70 feet / 21 metres high, surmounted by a temple and shrine to the Akkadian moon god Sin, was built by King Ur-Nammu in c.2100BC, using a solid mud brick core covered with waterproof baked mud bricks.

Archaeologists in the 1920s discovered thousands of graves dating back to the first dynasty of the Sumerian kings, including several so-called ‘death-pits’ where royal harpists and members of the royal court had taken poison before being buried above the tomb of their dead monarch. One of these ‘Royal Tombs’, contained the queen’s exquisite jewellery as well as a harp, a lyre, gold bowls and silver jugs.

Modern-day travellers to the site of Ur in southern Mesopotamia (near Basra in modern-day southern Iraq ) can visit the archaeological remains of the Royal Tombs of the Sumerian Kings (dating from c.2600BC), excavated by Leonard Woolley in the 1920s, together with the partially reconstructed remains of the Ziggurat of Ur . Many items from the tombs are on display at the British Museum in London .

Queen Pu-abi's gold pendant from the Royal Tombs of Ur

Gen 11:31-32  Terah and his family decide to move from Ur and follow the River Euphrates upstream for about 600 miles / 950km to Haran (see  1 on Map 38 ). Haran is the name of Abram's brother (see Genesis 11:27) so Terah apparently re-named the place  Haran in memory of his son, Lot's father, who had died before the family left Ur (Genesis 11:28).

Haran is one of the oldest cities on earth that is still inhabited today. Founded by settlers migrating west from Mesopotamia in the 18 th century BC, the city was at its peak during the Hittite Empire, based on Central Anatolia in the 12 th century BC. It was already centuries old when the Hittites fought Ramesses II of Egypt at the Battle of Kadesh in 939 BC.

Modern travellers to Harran ( Haran ), near AltinbaÅŸak in eastern Turkey , can sense the antiquity of the settlement when they encounter its decaying walls, the ruins of the ancient 11 th century citadel, and the remains of the Old Mosque. Haran is famous for its unique beehive-shaped mudbrick houses that originated in the 3 rd century BC and which have been rebuilt in the same style many times during the intervening centuries.

Traditional bee-hive shaped houses at Harran  (Glumik)

Gen 12:1-3  God calls Terah’s son Abram to “Leave your country… and go to the land I will show you.” God establishes a covenant agreement with Abram to give his family the ‘promised land’ of Canaan (later called Palestine ). This solemn agreement – which is renewed on many occasions – becomes the recurring theme of the Old Testament (‘testament’ means ‘covenant’ or solemn agreement).

Gen 12:4-5  In c.1855BC, Abram and his nephew Lot set out for Canaan , about 400 miles / 640km away, with their tents and flocks (see 2 on Map 38 ).

Go to next page

Abraham's Journey Map

1960 to 1890 b.c. birth and early life of abraham.

Abram (Abraham) is born in 1960 B.C. to a 130 year old man named Terah living in Ur of the Chaldees. He is the third son in a family composed of older brother Haran (60 years old) and second oldest Nahor. The family, like many others in Ur (which is a seaport at the time), worships pagan deities (Joshua 24:2).

God, at an unknown time, appears to Abraham while he is still in Ur and commands him to leave.

The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran (Haran), and said to him, "Leave your land and your kindred, and come into the land that I will show you." Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Charran; and from there, after his father died, He removed him to this country (Canaan, the Promised Land) in which you now dwell. (Acts 7:2 - 4, HBFV throughout).

The family, after the death of Haran, finally leaves the city and travels northwest along the Euphrates River. Making the long journey are Terah, Abraham (now 70) and his wife Sarah (Sarai), Nahor and his wife Milcah, plus Nahor's son Lot and his wife (Genesis 11:29 - 31). They end up in a city named Haran in a region called Padanaram.

1890 to 1885 B.C. Leaving Haran

Terah, after living five years in Haran, dies at the age of 205 (Genesis 11:32). God again commands Abraham, who is now 75 (Genesis 12:4), to leave for a land he will show him.

And the Lord said to Abram (Abraham), "Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house into a land that I will show you. "And I will make of you a great nation. And I will bless you and make your name great. And you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those that bless you and curse the one who curses you. And in you shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:1 - 3).

The patriarch, along with Sarah, Lot and his wife, along with their slaves, then journey south to the land of Canaan (the Promised Land). Nahor and his family (except Lot and his family) stay in Haran.

1885 to 1880 B.C. Shechem, Bethel and Famine

The group, now led by Abraham, journeys to the Canaanite city of Shechem. God confirms his promise of land to the patriarch which motivates him to build an altar dedicated to the Lord (Genesis 12:6 - 7). After living in the area for a short time they travel farther south to an area east of Bethel (initially named Luz).

And he moved from there to a mountain on the east of Bethel. And he pitched his tent with Bethel toward the sea and Hai (Ai) on the east. And he built an altar there to the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. (Genesis 12:8).

After staying an unknown period of time near Bethel the group again journeys south (Genesis 12:9). It is at this point that the Bible is silent regarding where Abraham lived. He likely settled near either the city of Hebron or Beersheba. He and his family live in this area until a severe famine motivates them to sojourn in Egypt (Genesis 12:10).

Abraham’s Journey: Map of Travels from Ur to Canaan

Abraham's journey : tracing the path from ur to canaan.

Abraham's journey is a significant narrative in both biblical and historical contexts. This remarkable journey marks the beginning of a story that would shape the foundation of monotheistic religions and reverberate through centuries. Let's explore the map of Abraham's travels, tracing his remarkable odyssey from Ur to Canaan.

Journey of Abraham Map : Traversing the Ancient Landscape

The journey of Abraham , a pivotal figure in the Bible, commenced in the city of Ur, situated in present-day Iraq . Guided by his unwavering faith in a higher power, Abraham embarked on a transformative expedition. His path led him through the heart of Mesopotamia, across vast deserts, and over rugged terrain.

Map of Abraham's Travels From Ur to Canaan

The map of Abraham's travels vividly illustrates his route, showcasing the challenges and triumphs he experienced. From Ur, he set forth towards the land of Canaan , a region associated with divine promises. This journey wasn't solely a physical one; it represented a spiritual quest driven by his deep belief in the divine command.

Embracing the Unknown: Faith and Obedience

Abraham's journey exemplifies his remarkable faith and unwavering obedience. His willingness to leave behind familiarity, family, and comfort, based solely on his trust in a divine promise, is a testament to his character. As he traversed through unknown lands, he carried with him a legacy that would shape the course of history.

Legacy of Abraham: Father of Many Nations

The journey of Abraham culminated in Canaan, where he continued to fulfill his calling. His story doesn't end with his arrival; it marks the beginning of a legacy. Often referred to as the " Father of Many Nations ," Abraham's descendants would become the foundation of monotheistic faiths, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Reflecting on the Journey: Significance for Today

Abraham's journey remains relevant today as a symbol of faith, courage, and the power of divine guidance. It teaches us that embracing the unknown, guided by faith and obedience, can lead to transformative experiences and lasting impact.

In retracing the steps of Abraham's journey through the map of his travels, we gain a deeper understanding of his profound impact on the course of history and the development of monotheistic beliefs. His journey serves as an inspiration for all those who seek to navigate life's uncertainties with faith and purpose.

Read The Bible

• 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
• 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
• American Standard Version (ASV)
• Amplified Bible (AMP)
• Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
• Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
• BRG Bible (BRG)
• Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
• Common English Bible (CEB)
• Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
• Contemporary English Version (CEV)
• Darby Translation (DARBY)
• Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)
• Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
• Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
• English Standard Version (ESV)
• English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
• Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)
• Expanded Bible (EXB)
• GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
• Good News Translation (GNT)
• Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
• International Children’s Bible (ICB)
• International Standard Version (ISV)
• J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
• Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)
• King James Version (KJV)
• Lexham English Bible (LEB)
• Living Bible (TLB)
• Modern English Version (MEV)
• Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE)
• Names of God Bible (NOG)
• New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
• New American Standard Bible (NASB)
• New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)
• New Catholic Bible (NCB)
• New Century Version (NCV)
• New English Translation (NET)
• New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
• New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
• New International Version (NIV)
• New King James Version (NKJV)
• New Life Version (NLV)
• New Living Translation (NLT)
• New Matthew Bible (NMB)
• New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
• New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
• New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
• New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
• New Testament for Everyone (NTE)
• Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
• Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)
• Revised Standard Version (RSV)
• Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
• The Message (MSG)
• The Voice (VOICE)
• Tree of Life Version (TLV)
• World English Bible (WEB)
• Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)
• Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
• Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

Welcome to Free Bible: Unearthing the Past, Illuminating the Present! Step into a world where ancient history and biblical narratives intertwine, inviting you to explore the rich tapestry of human civilization.

Discover the captivating stories of forgotten empires, delve into the customs and cultures of our ancestors, and witness the remarkable findings unearthed by dedicated archaeologists.

Immerse yourself in a treasure trove of knowledge, where the past comes alive and illuminates our understanding of the present.

Join us on this extraordinary journey through time, where curiosity is rewarded and ancient mysteries await your exploration.

Recent posts

The art of custom home design: unveiling wellcore corporation’s expertise, birthstones: a sparkling symphony of history, symbolism, and self-expression, the use of medicinal mushrooms by different religions of the world., explore a collection of religious svgs, angel numbers in the bible: unveiling myths and facts.

• Ancient Assyrian Social Structure
• Ancient Babylonia
• Ancient Canaan During the Time of Joshua
• Ancient History Timeline
• Ancient Oil Lamps
• Antonia Fortress
• Archaeology of Ancient Assyria
• Assyria and Bible Prophecy
• Augustus Caesar
• Background Bible Study
• Biblical Geography
• Fallen Empires - Archaeological Discoveries and the Bible
• First Century Jerusalem
• Glossary of Latin Words
• Herod Agrippa I
• Herod Antipas
• Herod the Great
• Herod's Temple
• High Priest's in New Testament Times
• Jewish Literature in New Testament Times
• Library collection
• Map of David's Kingdom
• Map of the Divided Kingdom - Israel and Judah
• Map of the Ministry of Jesus
• Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
• Messianic Prophecy
• Nero Caesar Emperor
• Online Bible Maps
• Paul's First Missionary Journey
• Paul's Second Missionary Journey
• Paul's Third Missionary Journey
• Pontius Pilate
• Questions About the Ancient World
• Tabernacle of Ancient Israel
• Tax Collectors in New Testament Times
• The Babylonian Captivity
• The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser
• The Books of the New Testament
• The Court of the Gentiles
• The Court of the Women in the Temple
• The Destruction of Israel
• The Fall of Judah with Map
• The History Of Rome
• The Incredible Bible
• The Jewish Calendar in Ancient Hebrew History
• The Life of Jesus in Chronological Order
• The Life of Jesus in Harmony
• The Names of God
• The New Testament
• The Old Testament
• The Passion of the Christ
• The Pharisees
• The Sacred Year of Israel in New Testament Times
• The Samaritans
• The Scribes

Ancient Questions

• Do any Archaeological Discoveries Mention Israel?
• What was the Wilderness of Judea?
• What was the Hostile Plough?
• How did the ancient Mayans develop their sophisticated calendar system?
• What is the Passover Papyrus?
• What was a Roman Centurion?
• What were the cultural and artistic achievements of ancient India, particularly during the Gupta Empire?
• What were the main causes of the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the key events and significance of the Battle of Thermopylae in ancient Greece?
• Does the Bible Mention the Mediterranean Sea?

Bible Study Questions

• What are the different genres of literature found in the Bible?
• What is the importance of the Great Commission in spreading the Gospel?
• What does the Bible say about social justice and caring for the marginalized?
• What is the significance of the Ten Commandments?
• How do we approach and study the historical and cultural context of biblical passages?
• What is Original Sin?
• What is the significance of the Psalms in personal and corporate worship?
• How do we approach and study prophetic literature in the Bible?
• How do we understand the concept of God’s sovereignty and human free will?
• How do we discern and apply biblical principles to contemporary ethical issues?

Bible Pearls

Did you know that....

"It's life", they say, and then again "things will go back to normal". But is it true? Or are some people making a big fuss about nothing?

Things are changing and times are changing, but what are we supposed to do? Look to the future with hope, or run and hide in fear? How can we properly prepare so we are not taken by surprise? Today you can learn what steps to take as a Christian, and prepare physically and spiritually for what is to come.

If you would like to learn about these uncertain times, check out our article on this topic in our Bible Articles section.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Related articles you might like.

12 Tribes of Israel Chart

Division of the Promised Land to the 12 Tribes of Israel

If You Found This Helpful, Please Share. Thanks!

ConformingToJesus Ministry - Copyright © 2014-2023. All Rights Reserved

Easily See 6017 Years of Biblical and World History Together!

• $ 0.00 0 items

Abraham’s Long Journey to Canaan, Trusting God:

Has God ever taken you on the long route to a promised blessing or leading?  You could see a faster way, but instead off you went in almost the opposite direction. Maybe you are in the middle of one now.

Below is a quick summary of Abraham’s long-way-round journey from Ur to Canaan.

Let us know about your long journey (or journeys) in a comment, please.

The 11th chapter of Genesis tells us the story of the Tower of Babel and the journey of Terah along with his son Abraham with his wife Sarai and Terah’s grandson Lot . For reasons not specified in Genesis Chapter 11 of the Bible , they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans (present-day southern Iraq) to Canaan on the Mediterranean coast. We can only speculate as to why Terah did this but a peek at the location and political situation in Mesopotamia at that time would give us clues why he would take his family elsewhere.  (For a better picture of Bible events and location, refer to the Holy Land Map in conjunction with this article.)

Unique Circular Format – see more in less space. Learn facts that you can’t learn just from reading the Bible Attractive design ideal for your home, office, church …

Limited Time Offer! Find out more now! >

Ur was a place of upheavals and it was under constant attack from hostile neighbors during the time of the patriarchs, so leaving the city for a more peaceful land would have been a more feasible choice for Terah and his family. Another possibility is that Terah may have recognized and worshiped the true God while Ur was a city full of people who were devoted to the Sumerian moon god Nanna (or Sin in Akkadian). We can see a problem in their beliefs if this is the case which may have driven Terah and his family to leave Ur.

Shorter Desert Route versus Longer River Route

Whatever the reason, Terah never reached his original destination of Canaan and they settled instead in Haran (present-day southern Turkey) where he died.

If we look at the map of modern day Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, and Israel , a journey from east to west through the Arabian desert would have been the shorter route. Terah and his family, however, took the longer route by following the Euphrates river upstream towards Haran. This makes more sense rather than making the journey across a perilous desert.

External factors that may put their life at risk during the desert journey include a lack of reliable sources of water, intense heat, constant temperature changes, and unpredictable sandstorms. Lack of food can also be a problem in a sparsely vegetated land while dangerous insects and animals also pose a threat. Bandits preying on passing vulnerable caravans also endangered their lives. There may have also been established routes throughout Mesopotamia that followed the Euphrates, so northwards to Haran is the better and safer choice.

Onward to Canaan

Abraham’s family settled in Haran for many years until Terah died at the age of 205, then God called Abraham to go and continue the journey to Canaan. We can only surmise as to what drove their family to settle in Haran temporarily (whether it’s the town’s prosperity or relative peace), but to uproot himself and his family from a familiar land to live in another which was inhabited by people whose customs and gods differ from his can be unsettling.

He was 75 years old at that time and moving was not an easy task especially in his age. But this time, the command to move to Canaan came with a blessing explicitly stated in Genesis 12:2-3. So he packed all their belongings and journeyed again, reaching Shechem in Canaan first, then the hills of Bethel, and finally south to the Negev.

Our Own Long River Route

Abraham was often held as one whose faith and obedience shined brightly among the other characters in the Bible. The material and spiritual blessings that followed his obedience were well-documented, and he is recognized as someone Christians should emulate in faith.

We also take journeys, literally and spiritually (just like Abraham) and make hard decisions that will significantly impact our lives. Making the right choices (such as who to marry or whether to move to another city to pursue a leading) takes a lot of faith in God. The question is do we trust God enough to lead us out of our Ur of the Chaldeans and take us to a better place which He promised us? Do we take the shorter yet perilous desert route or do we have the patience to take the longer river route? Do we trust in our own intelligence or do we seek God first for His word in our decision-making process?

In your life, has God led you to the longer river route and how did it become a blessing?  Comment below, please.

• Unique circular format - over 1,000 references at your fingertips on this wonderful study companion
• Discover interesting facts - Biblical events with scripture references plotted alongside world history showcase fun chronological relationships
• Attractive, easy to use design - People will stop to look at and talk about this beautifully laid out Jesus history timeline poster ideal for your home, office, church ...

Gift yourself, your family and Bible studying friends this amazing study companion for an exciting journey of discovery.

14 thoughts on “ abraham’s long journey to canaan, trusting god: ”.

thank you. Very good.

I’ve always felt a pull towards God. But instead I injured my back and got addicted to pain killers I lost my family and everything I hold dear in my life . That consumed me for 18 years. After living on the streets and hitting my rock bottom. I immediately went into treatment. I then had a friend that asked me to an Alpha course. Where I did the best thing. I asked Jesus into my life. I’ve been clean for almost three years. And my heart is in the Lord praise be to there.

Wow ! What a testimony. Praise GOD! Trust that GOD who has pulled you out of the pit of addiction will continue to LIFT you UP day by day and you will be VICTORIOUS in YESHUA! Shalom, David, Perth, WA.

My Dear Brother Defnitely you will be see Miracles if youstay for god still

Praise God he is great and greatly to be praised

Thanks for your testimony. You are God’s child, and He will do anything to save you. Sometimes we choose the path which appears shorter, but it is indeed longer and we wonder why we have to struggle so much. But God never left us. He’s was always there waiting on us to follow Him for the blessings. Please continue in the faith and may the lives of many be touched by your post. God bless you Sir.

After submitting to God I knew I had a lot to learn. I didn’t have to go far like Abram, but the lessons I learn about myself was something I would not wish on even the worst of mine enemies. Of course hind sight is 20/20. I didn’t realize how selfish I was throughout my youth and how my sins didn’t go unnoticed by God like I had thought. It had to be ,like Abraham, that I should trust God and now life is so much better. We should all be as Abram and go forward in faith, for God does provide and equip those who hear his ” STILL SMALL VOICE”.

Good news. God bless you.

Was saved at 10 years old and then led into the wilderness of the world for 40 years. At age 50, the Lord called me out of the world and then out of the church. The Lord allowed me to loose everything and ended up.living in a van and traveling the country for 18 months on His provision alone. Broken ball joints, blown tires, weeks without food and then onto where I am now…awaiting direction for the next leg. Patience and truat…trust in the unbelievable have been the lessons so far.

You’re right on. Every believer has to go through the fire when trusting God. Then we have a good witness.

Abram was called out of Ur to go to a land he did not know according to Acts 7:2. Perhaps when he told his father, Terah, that the One true God had called him, his father took the reins and led them out of Ur. Terah was worshipping many gods at that time so it’s possible that he thought this was one of those many gods. We don’t know why God waited until Terah died to call Abram again but perhaps it was because Terah did not believe in the One True God. Abram is called a second time after his father dies in Harlan with promises of blessing given.

I have always been making choices on my own, and notice that I keep making the same mistakes. However, regardless of my mistakes I have always felt that God has a special place in His heart for me. He always catches me when I’m about to fall. In October 2016 I decided to let go and let God, and I notice that I’m getting closer to the blessings He has for me. Following God’s instructions is indeed the safest and surest way to His blessings.

God led me to retire early from my job. We were then forced to move from our hometown to an hour away. These 2 changes were some of the hardest things I’ve done in my entire life but God has definitely been in them. We’ve been here 4 years now and even though I still miss living at our old place, God is accomplishing incredible stuff in my life. We attend a great church, good friends and good fellowship. Now if covid would just end.

In May 2020 on a Saturday morning I was getting into my car to go to the liquor store and I heard someone telling into my ears…DONT DRINK..GO HOME.The 4 words made me U turn..Was stunned,.clueless ..whats going on me..I’m a daily consumer alcohol last 54 years and suffering from parkinson and anxiety attacks which led me suicidal attempts few times.I did not drink that day and called my friend next day and explained also I said I’ve no cravings towards alcohol now.He said the holy spirit in you and you will never consume alcohol anymore.As he said I’m clean from that day onwards and my parkinson and anxiety attacks gone.Now I can write even draw paintings and helping people suffering from anxiety.Thanks Jesus my saviour.I ask jesus to teach me patience, humble,love and forgive others. I spend 2-3 hrs.with jesus daily praying and singing.Its a great joy. I regret wasted 54 years Thanks for giving me an opportunity to give my testimony. ….Glory to the father who has created me…Glory to the son who has Redeemed me…Glory to the Holy Spirit who has sanctified me………….Thanks in Jesus

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• What is the meaning of AD, BC, BCE and CE?
• When and how did the Twelve Apostles die?
• How Long Was Joseph In Potiphars House? How Long In Prison?
• Why Did Christ Ride a Donkey on His Triumphant Entry?
• John Exiled to Patmos
• Is Job included on the Bible Timeline?
• Why Wave Palm Leaves?
• 15 Historical Proofs of the Bible
• What Are The Names of the Thieves Crucified With Christ?
• Edomites Descendants of Esau

• Log In Sign Up
• Read the Bible
• Bible Versions
• Verse of the Day
• Reading Plans
• Verses by Topic
• Books of the Bible
• Bible Images
• Commentaries
• Concordances
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• Bible Atlas & Maps
• Devotionals
• Today's Devotionals
• Light of the World
• All Devotionals
• Inspirational Quotes
• Picture Quotes
• Inspirational
• Bible Study
• What The Bible Says
• Bible Q&As
• Daily Bread
• Bible by Genre
• Bible Stories
• Random Bible Verse

THE JOURNEYS OF ABRAHAM

Be the first to react on this!

Get Bible verse every day in your inbox

Read on Mobile

Group of Brands

• Statement of Faith
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Permissions Policy
• BP ScriptureTagger
• VotD RSS Feeds
• Article RSS Feeds

6200 2nd St NW Washington, DC 20011

• Bible Cartoons Search by Bible Book
• Bible Cartoons Search by Keyword
• Bible Cartoons Search by Famous Bible Stories
• Search by Bible Character
• Bible Cartoons Search by Doctrine

Map of Middle East: Abram/Abraham's journey from Ur to Canaan

Click on add map to cart button below shopping cart..

This is my map of the Middle East, showing the route Abram took, going from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran and then on to Canaan, into Egypt and finally back to Canaan again. The red arrowed lines show the route he took.

The first part of the journey involved Terah (Abram’s father), Abram, Sarai (Abram’s wife), Lot (Terah’s grandson) and all their goods and servants, travelling from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran, a northern Mesopotamian commercial city (Genesis 11:27-32) (for all Bible reference, see bottom of page). We know from verse 32 that Abram’s father Terah died in Haran.

Some time later God spoke to Abram (when he was 75 years old) and he continued the migration from Haran to near Shechem, in Canaan (Genesis 12:1-6). He then camped between Bethel and Ai and built an altar to the Lord there (Genesis 12:8) and then moved in stages into the Negev desert (Genesis 12:9). Next a severe famine in Canaan drove Abram and his company into Egypt (Genesis 12:10).

Genesis 13:1-4 tells of Abram’s journey from Egypt back through the Negev to the same camp between Bethel and Ai, where he had built an altar to the Lord. Genesis 13:5-13 records the separation of Lot from Abram as the land of Canaan couldn’t support all their flocks and herds living so close together.

Distances I thought it might be interesting to try to calculate how far Abram, Sarai, Lot and their company walked, on all their travels. Using the line/path drawing function in Google Earth I calculated the following:

01) In straight lines from Ur to Babel/Babylon, to Accad, to Mari, to Rezeph, to Haran it is about 641 miles (1031 Km).

02) In straight lines from Haran to Carchemesh, to Aleppo, to Hamath, to Damascus, to Shechem it is about 426 miles (686 Km).

03) In a straight line from Shechem, to Bethel, to Egypt it is about 254 miles (409 Km). This is assuming Abram went via Beersheba and walked “The Way to Shur” (an ancient road) into Egypt and that he stopped at Raamses. If Abram went to On (aka Heliopolis) we’d have to add another 60 miles (97 Km) to that trek!

04) The return to Canaan, in a straight line from Raamses (in Egypt) to Bethel, via Beersheba on “The Way to Shur”, is about 230 miles (368 Km).

As an absolute minimal then, Abram, Sarai, Lot and all their herds, livestock, servants, etc must have walked 1551 miles (2494 Km) and it was probably MUCH more than that!

Date According to The Chronological Life Application Study Bible, Abraham was born in 2166 B.C., during the Early Bronze Age, and the migration of Abram from Haran to Canaan occurred around 2091 B.C.

Notice the figures on the border of the map. If you look carefully at the map border you will see I have included some little black and white figures. I will add different figures to the borders of each map, adding characters that relate to the map subject.

Bible References Genesis 11:27-32 ( NLT ) The Family of Terah 27 This is the history of Terah’s family. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran had a son named Lot. 28 But while Haran was still young, he died in Ur of the Chaldeans, the place of his birth. He was survived by Terah, his father. 29 Meanwhile, Abram married Sarai, and his brother Nahor married Milcah, the daughter of their brother Haran. (Milcah had a sister named Iscah.) 30 Now Sarai was not able to have any children. 31 Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai, and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and left Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But they stopped instead at the village of Haran and settled there. 32 Terah lived for 205 years [1] and died while still at Haran.

[1] Some ancient versions read 145 years. Compare 11:26, 12:4.

Genesis 12:1-6 ( NLT ) The Call of Abram 1 Then the LORD told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people who had joined his household at Haran—and finally arrived in Canaan. 6 Traveling through Canaan, they came to a place near Shechem and set up camp beside the oak at Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I am going to give this land to your offspring.” And Abram built an altar there to commemorate the LORD ’s visit. 8 After that, Abram traveled southward and set up camp in the hill country between Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar and worshiped the LORD . 9 Then Abram traveled south by stages toward the Negev.

Abram and Sarai in Egypt 10 At that time there was a severe famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to wait it out.

Genesis 13:1-13 ( NLT ) Abram and Lot seperate 1 So they left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev—Abram with his wife and Lot and all that they owned, 2 for Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. 3 Then they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where they had camped before. 4 This was the place where Abram had built the altar, and there he again worshiped the LORD . 5 Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, was also very wealthy with sheep, cattle, and many tents. 6 But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. There were too many animals for the available pastureland. 7 So an argument broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land. 8 Then Abram talked it over with Lot. “This arguing between our herdsmen has got to stop,” he said. “After all, we are close relatives! 9 I’ll tell you what we’ll do. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want that area over there, then I’ll stay here. If you want to stay in this area, then I’ll move on to another place.” 10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 Lot chose that land for himself—the Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. 12 So while Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom, among the cities of the plain. 13 The people of this area were unusually wicked and sinned greatly against the LORD .

Abraham’s Journey: Tracing the Path from Ur to Canaan

Embark on a remarkable journey through history as we trace the path of Abraham , a central figure in the Abrahamic religions, and his voyage from Ur to Canaan. This transformative journey is vividly depicted in the " Journey of Abraham Map ," offering a visual narrative of his travels. As a pivotal figure in the Book of Genesis , Abraham's story is deeply intertwined with his faith and obedience to a divine call.

The " Map of Abraham's Travels " provides a comprehensive portrayal of his arduous journey from the city of Ur , located in modern-day Iraq, to the land of Canaan , which holds significant religious and historical importance. This epic voyage is not just a geographical movement but a spiritual odyssey, symbolizing faith, trust, and obedience to a higher calling.

By exploring this map, we gain insights into the challenges and triumphs that shaped Abraham's character and faith. His journey from Ur to Canaan marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of monotheistic religions , as well as a testament to the enduring power of faith and the enduring legacy of a man who became known as the father of many nations.

Related Posts

The Call of Abraham: Faith in God’s Plan

The narrative of Abraham's call in the Bible is a foundational story that encapsulates the essence of faith, obedience, and... Read More

The Power of Prayer: Unveiling Moses’ Intercession

Moses, a towering figure in biblical history, is not only known for leading the Israelites out of Egypt but also... Read More

The Early Years of Joshua: From Slave to Leader

The biblical narrative introduces Joshua as a figure of significant importance, not only for his leadership role in the Israelite... Read More

Interpreting Genesis: Different Views on the 6 Days of Creation

The opening chapters of the book of Genesis provide a profound and foundational account of the creation of the world.... Read More

Read The Bible

• 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
• 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
• American Standard Version (ASV)
• Amplified Bible (AMP)
• Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
• Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
• BRG Bible (BRG)
• Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
• Common English Bible (CEB)
• Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
• Contemporary English Version (CEV)
• Darby Translation (DARBY)
• Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)
• Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
• Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
• English Standard Version (ESV)
• English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
• Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)
• Expanded Bible (EXB)
• GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
• Good News Translation (GNT)
• Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
• International Children’s Bible (ICB)
• International Standard Version (ISV)
• J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
• Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)
• King James Version (KJV)
• Lexham English Bible (LEB)
• Living Bible (TLB)
• Modern English Version (MEV)
• Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE)
• Names of God Bible (NOG)
• New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
• New American Standard Bible (NASB)
• New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)
• New Catholic Bible (NCB)
• New Century Version (NCV)
• New English Translation (NET)
• New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
• New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
• New International Version (NIV)
• New King James Version (NKJV)
• New Life Version (NLV)
• New Living Translation (NLT)
• New Matthew Bible (NMB)
• New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
• New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
• New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
• New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
• New Testament for Everyone (NTE)
• Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
• Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)
• Revised Standard Version (RSV)
• Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
• The Message (MSG)
• The Voice (VOICE)
• Tree of Life Version (TLV)
• World English Bible (WEB)
• Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)
• Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
• Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our use of cookies.

> Privacy Policy

• Old Testament Leader Guide GNT
• New Testament Leader Guide GNT
• Breakthrough Bible NABRE Leader Guide
• The Catholic Youth Bible®, 4th Edition
• The Catholic Children's Bible
• Discover! Online Director's Manual
• Connect! Bringing Faith to Life
• Connect! Activity Book
• Connect! Catechist Guide Year 1
• Connect! Catechist Guide Year 2
• Connect! Catechist Guide Year 3
• Connect! Bringing Faith to Life Student Book
• Connect! Church History Student Book
• Connect! Teacher Guide Year 1 Part 1
• Connect! Teacher Guide Year 1 Part 2
• Connect Teacher Guide Year 2 Part 1
• Connect Teacher Guide Year 2 Part 2
• Connect Teacher Guide Year 3 Part 1
• Connect Teacher Guide Year 3 Part 2
• Revelation and the Old Testament
• Jesus Christ and the New Testament
• The Paschal Mystery and the Gospels
• The Church Foundations and Mission
• Sacraments and God's Grace
• Morality and God's Love
• Director's Manual, Gathered Sessions and Retreat
• Called to Mercy 2024
• Reconciliation and Eucharist Kit
• Online Director's Manual
• Reconciliation Teaching Guide
• Reconciliation Teaching Guide (Spanish)
• Eucharist Teaching Guide
• Eucharist Teaching Guide (Spanish)
• Confirmation Teaching Guide
• Confirmation Teaching Guide (Spanish)
• Reconciliation Home Guide
• Eucharist Home Guide
• Confirmation Home Guide
• Understanding Catholicism
• Creating Justice
• The Living Word
• Jesus Christ
• The Paschal Mystery
• The Sacraments
• Christian Morality
• The New Testament
• Catholic Social Teaching
• Church History
• Teacher Guide
• Catechist Guide
• Old Testament Teacher Guide
• New Testament Teacher Guide
• The Old Testament, the Trinity, and the Mission of Christ
• The New Testament, the Church, and the Sacraments
• Christian Morality and Prayer
• The Old Testament and the Trinity
• The Prophets, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit
• The New Testament and the Church
• Liturgy and Sacraments
• Christian Morality and Social Justice
• Prayer and Church History
• Understanding Catholic Christianity
• Living Justice and Peace
• Anointed in the Spirit Middle School Catechist Guide
• Divorce and Beyond Spanish Edition
• The Catholic Church
• Growing in Christian Morality
• Creating a Christian Lifestyle
• Understanding Catholic Christianity (1996)
• Jesus of History, Christ of Faith
• Celebrating Sacraments
• Living Justice and Peace (2008)
• Written on Our Hearts
• World Religions (2015)
• Liturgical Calendar
• Feast Day Activities
• Stations of the Cross
• Marian Events
• Penance Services
• Catholic Culture
• In Class Prayer Services
• Learning to Pray
• Reflections
• Christology
• Ecclesiology
• Social Justice
• World Religions
• Youth Ministry
• Coloring and Crafts
• Crosswords and Word Activities
• Discussion-Oriented
• Skits and Dramas
• Other Activities
• Classroom Management
• Review Exercises
• Quiz and Essay Questions
• Posters and Charts
• PowerPoints
• Recommended Websites

Home > Media > Images

Map of the Journeys of Abraham, Jacob and Joseph - The Founders

About this image

Copyright © Saint Mary's Press. This image may be saved, printed or downloaded for personal and educational (non-commercial) use. All other uses require written permission from the publisher.

Related Text

• Map of The Founders Journeys
• Chapter A The Bible:The Patriarchs
• Traveling with Abraham
• Abraham, Sarah, and Their Descendants
• Map of Tribes of Israel in Canaan
• The Early Leaders of Israel
• The Early Leaders of Israel

Related Images

Map of the Exile to Babylon and Back to Jerusalem

Map of the Israelite Journey: Out of the Wilderness, Into the Promised Land

Map of Israel and the Empires of the Ancient World

• Bible Grant Program
• Rights & Permissions
• Submissions
• Privacy Policy
• DEI Statement
• High School
• Middle School
• All Products
• Order History
• Return Policy
• Parish Online Catalog
• K-8 Online Catalog
• High School Catalog

Ministry Care Team

• 800-533-8095
• International Distributors

Copyright © 2024 Saint Mary's Press. All rights reserved.   •   Privacy Policy

One blog, countless inspirations

Head to our blog to learn how to more effectively touch hearts and change lives through stories, saints, and scripture.

Take a Look

bibilium.com

Abraham’s journey to canaan | genesis 12 | the incredible father of faith.

Abraham’s Journey to Canaan is the beginning of the restoration of the original mandate given to humanity by God Almighty.

This is the start of the story of the “Father of Faith” Abram and his wife Sarai, who lived in the city of Ur in the Chaldeans (modern-day Iraq). The Almighty God asked Abram to leave the city and travel to an undesignated land that he later learned was Canaan. God promised that he would bless him and make him the father of a great nation. Abram faithfully obeyed God and started his journey to the Promised Land, which his “seed” would inherit.

Abraham’s Journey to Canaan

Read the most well-known Bi ble Stories with Pictures and learn life lessons that will empower you and restore your faith .

Related Posts

The Famous Story of Zacchaeus — The Repentant Tax Collector| 3 Life Lessons

Book of Genesis – The Story of Two Brothers [Cain & Abel]

Astonishing Abraham and Isaac — Abraham Offering Up Isaac (10 Lessons)

Sodom Gomorrah Destroyed — Man’s Sinful Nature and God’s Righteous Judgment

Isaac and Rebekah — A Tender Love Story | 4 Impressive Lessons

Awe-inspiring God Rescues Hagar and Ishmael in the Bible (Genesis 21)

About the author.

Add Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

• All Publications

Abraham’s journey through the ‘Land of Promise’

By: David Parsons, Vice President & Senior Spokesman

When God promised the Land of Canaan to Abraham, what kind of land did he encounter when he first arrived here? Who were its inhabitants? How did they sustain themselves on the land? And why did the Lord choose the Land of Israel for His people?    The Patriarch Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldeans, one of the earliest city-states located in the fertile plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. For centuries, these two great rivers have brought life-giving water and rich soil deposits from well to the north to turn an otherwise arid region into a veritable garden.    The Land of Israel, in contrast, features its own truly unique ecosystem situated at the crossroads of three continents and linking the great civilisations of antiquity. Like other travellers from the East, Abraham avoided a straight trek through the desert and came into the land from the north using a familiar landmark – Mount Hermon.    The three summits of Hermon each stand at over 9,200 feet (2,800 meters) and are snow-capped almost half the year. This majestic mountain not only guided those seeking to reach Africa or Europe by way of the Via Maris (Way of the Sea). Since ancient times, the Hermon also has served as a key marker for millions of migratory birds who annually fly south from Russia through the Jordan Rift Valley and down the Nile River to their wintering grounds in East Africa.   

As he passed Mount Hermon and the adjoining Golan Heights, Abraham would have encountered the cool, rushing waters of the Dan, Banias and Hasbani streams which come together to form the Upper Jordan River. Coursing through the marshy Hula Valley, this northern leg of the Jordan empties into the shimmering Sea of Galilee – called the “Kinneret” in Hebrew for its harp-like shape. At this point, the land begins to drop well below sea-level, as the Lower Jordan flows out the south end of the Sea and meanders its way to what the Bible refers to as the “Salt Sea” some 90 miles southward. Here, the briny shoreline is over 1,400 feet (430 meters) below sea level – the lowest point on earth.    Further south, the land slowly rises through dry, barren terrain to the northern end of the Gulf of Eilat on the Red Sea. To the west of the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea, the steep, rocky cliffs quickly ascend to the Judea/Samaria mountain range, running north-south for roughly 100 miles. Even further west, the land slopes down to the sandy yet arable coastal plain and eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.   

Abraham started down the lower Jordan Valley but turned right halfway down into the Tirza valley, described simply as “beautiful” in Song of Solomon 6:4. Gradually climbing into the Shomron hills, the narrow valley curves around Elon Moreh, a high, round summit overlooking biblical Shechem (Nablus today). Pitching his tent on the lofty peak, Abraham could spy out the land in all directions (Genesis 12:6).    This path also gave him immediate access to the “King’s Highway” – an ancient road running along the spine of the Judea/Samaria mountain ridge that could easily take one down past Shiloh and Bethel, the Jebusite city we now call Jerusalem, and all the way down to Hebron. Abraham was temporarily diverted by a famine to Egypt, but soon returned to Bethel and followed the highway to Hebron, where he again set up camp, this time by the Oak of Mamre (Genesis 13:18).   

Around this period, he resolved the squabbling between his herdsmen and those of his nephew Lot by offering to divide the land with him. Lot famously chose the lush plain of the Jordan, near today’s Jericho, and wound up vexed living among the corrupted people of Sodom. Later, Abraham took his flocks to Gerar, near Gaza (Genesis 20:1), and finally to Beersheba (Genesis 22:19).    What we can notice about the travels of Abraham around the land promised to him by God was that he tended to set up camp and build altars to Jehovah on the high places, where he could spy out the whole Land of Canaan. He also stuck close to the water sources, understandable in such a dry climate.    The Land he had entered was already claimed by another people, the Canaanites – descendants of the cursed son of Ham. On the other hand, Abraham was a Semitic offspring of Shem, traditionally known as an upright servant of God. This contrast still holds great spiritual lessons for the people of God, as we seek to possess what the Lord has promised us even if an ungodly people also claim it. And as a general rule of thumb, any biblical peoples ending in “-ite” (Amorites, Jebusites, Girgashites, Hittites) indicates they were probably Canaanite shepherds living mainly in the hill country of the Land. Meantime, the coastal plain was inhabited by the Philistines, who came from Japeth and were largely farmers and seafarers like the Phoenicians to the north. Over the centuries, the Israelites would face many battles with both the Canaanites and the Philistines as to who truly was master of the Land of Promise.    Later in Scripture, the Land of Israel is repeatedly described as a land “flowing with milk and honey” ( e.g., Exodus 3:8, 13:5; Leviticus 20:24; Numbers 14:8).   

The Lord speaks glowingly of the Land in Deuteronomy 11:11-12, saying: “but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.”     Indeed, the Lord listed out the seven species of fruits and crops native to the land which would always be there to nourish and sustain them – grapes, olives, dates, figs, pomegranates, wheat and barley.  They also could rely on the extremely fertile Jezreel Valley – the largest natural bread basket for a thousand miles in any direction. Yet the Promised Land also lay on the edge of the desert and was susceptible to drought and famine, which God used time and again to test and correct His people.    As we further explore the “Land of Promise” theme leading up to this year’s Feast of Tabernacles, there is so much more to say about this rich topic and many lessons to take from it for our own walk with the Lord. But we can start with gratitude that Abraham was obedient to the call of God to arise from his own country and bravely go to a land he had not yet seen. It was a journey that came with many difficulties and challenges, yet it brought him great blessing and wealth and eventually made him the father of faith and heir of the entire world (Romans 4:13). And Abraham came to a truly unique, beautiful and bountiful land that also proved to be a testing ground of faith for the many generations after him. Even to this day, the people of Israel are confronted with the pivotal question of how much do they treasure this special Land promised to them as an “everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:8). 

Genesis 12-24 Amplified Bible

Abram journeys to egypt.

12  Now [in Haran] the Lord had said to Abram,

“Go away from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; ( A ) 2  And [ a ] I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others]; 3  And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you, And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.” ( B )

4  So Abram departed [in faithful obedience] as the Lord had directed him; and Lot [his nephew] left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5  Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had acquired, and the people (servants) which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6  Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the [great] terebinth (oak) tree of Moreh. Now the [ b ] Canaanites were in the land at that time. 7  Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” So Abram built an altar there to [honor] the Lord who had appeared to him. 8  Then he moved on from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving]. 9  Then Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev (the South country of Judah).

10  Now there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to live temporarily, for the famine in the land was oppressive and severe. 11  And when he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “Listen: I know that you are [ c ] a beautiful woman; 12  so when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me [to acquire you], but they will let you live. 13  Please tell them that you are [ d ] my sister so that things will go well for me for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you.” 14  And when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful. 15  Pharaoh’s princes (officials) also saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken [for the purpose of marriage] into Pharaoh’s house (harem). 16  Therefore Pharaoh treated Abram well for her sake; he acquired sheep, oxen, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

17  But the Lord punished Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18  Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19  Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her and go!” 20  So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him on his way, with his wife and all that he had.

Abram and Lot

13  So Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot [his nephew] with him, into the Negev (the South country of Judah).

2  Now Abram was extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold. 3  He journeyed on from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4  where he had first built an altar; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord [in prayer]. ( C ) 5  But Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6  Now the land was not able to support them [that is, sustain all their grazing and water needs] while they lived near one another, for their possessions were too great for them to stay together. 7  And there was strife and quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were living in the land at that same time [making grazing of the livestock difficult].

8  So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife and disagreement between you and me, nor between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, because we are relatives. 9  Is not the entire land before you? Please separate [yourself] from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.” 10  So Lot looked and saw that the valley of the Jordan was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; [it was all] like the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar [at the south end of the Dead Sea]. 11  Then Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and he traveled east. So they separated from each other. 12  Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled in the cities of the valley and camped as far as Sodom and lived there. 13  But the men of Sodom were extremely wicked and sinful against the Lord [unashamed in their open sin before Him].

14  The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had left him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are standing , northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15  for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever. ( D ) 16  I will make your descendants [as numerous] as the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the [grains of] dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted. ( E ) 17  Arise, walk (make a thorough reconnaissance) around in the land, through its length and its width, for I will give it to you.” 18  Then Abram broke camp and moved his tent, and came and settled by the [grove of the great] terebinths (oak trees) of Mamre [the Amorite], which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to [honor] the Lord .

War of the Kings

14  In the days of the [Eastern] kings Amraphel of Shinar, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of Elam, and Tidal of Goiim, 2  they [invaded the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea, and] made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela [ e ] ( that is, Zoar ) . 3  All of these [kings] joined together [as allies] in the Valley of Siddim ( that is, the Sea of Salt ) . 4  Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer [the most powerful king in the invading confederacy], but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5  In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the [three] kings who were with him attacked and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6  and the Horites in their mountainous country of Seir, as far as El-paran, which is on the border of the wilderness. 7  Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat ( that is, Kadesh ) , and subdued all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. 8  Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela ( that is, Zoar ) came out; and they joined together for battle with the invading kings in the Valley of Siddim, 9  against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. 10  Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar (bitumen) pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them. But the remainder [of the kings] who survived fled to the hill country. 11  Then the victors took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply and provisions and left. 12  And they also took [captive] Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and left, for he was living in Sodom.

13  Then a survivor who had escaped [from the invading forces on the other side of the Jordan] came and told Abram the [ f ] Hebrew. Now he was living by the terebinths (oaks) of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner—they were allies of Abram. 14  When Abram heard that his nephew [Lot] had been captured, he armed and led out his trained men, born in his own house, [numbering] three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far [north] as Dan. 15  He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and attacked and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16  And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

Abram and Melchizedek

17  Then after Abram’s return from the defeat (slaughter) of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh ( that is, the King’s Valley ) . 18  [ g ] Melchizedek king of Salem (ancient Jerusalem) brought out bread and wine [for them]; he was the priest of [ h ] God Most High. 19  And Melchizedek blessed Abram and said,

“Blessed (joyful, favored) be Abram by God Most High, Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth; 20  And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your enemies into your hand.”

And Abram gave him a tenth of all [the treasure he had taken in battle]. ( F ) 21  The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods (spoils of battle) for yourself.” 22  But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand and sworn an oath to the Lord God Most High, the Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth, 23  that I would not take anything that is yours, from a thread to a sandal strap, so you could not say, ‘I [the King of Sodom] have made Abram rich.’ 24  I will take nothing except what my young men have eaten, and the share of the spoils belonging to the men [my allies] who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share of the spoils.”

Abram Promised a Son

15  After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,

“Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great.”

2  Abram said, “Lord [ i ] God , what reward will You give me, since I am [leaving this world] childless, and he who will be the owner and heir of my house is this [servant] Eliezer from Damascus?” 3  And Abram continued, “Since You have given no child to me, one (a servant) born in my house is my heir.” 4  Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man [Eliezer] will not be your heir but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5  And the Lord brought Abram outside [his tent into the night] and said, “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So [numerous] shall your descendants be.” ( G ) 6  Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord ; and He counted (credited) it to him [ j ] as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man). ( H ) 7  And He said to him, “I am the [same] Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance.” 8  But Abram said, “Lord [ k ] God , by what [proof] will I know that I will inherit it?” 9  So God said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10  So Abram brought all these to Him and [ l ] cut them down the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11  The birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

12  When the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram; and a horror (terror, shuddering fear, nightmare) of great darkness overcame him. 13  God said to Abram, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. ( I ) 14  But on that nation whom your descendants will serve I will bring judgment, and afterward they will come out [of that land] with great possessions. ( J ) 15  As for you, you shall [die and] go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16  Then in the [ m ] fourth generation your descendants shall return here [to Canaan, the land of promise], for the wickedness and guilt of the [ n ] Amorites is not yet complete (finished).” ( K )

17  When the sun had gone down and a [deep] darkness had come, there appeared a smoking [ o ] brazier and a flaming torch which passed between the [divided] pieces [of the animals]. ( L ) 18  On the same day the Lord made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying,

“To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates—

19  [the land of] the Kenites and the Kenizzites and the Kadmonites 20  and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Rephaim, 21  the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

Sarai and Hagar

16  Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him any children , and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2  So Sarai said to Abram, “See here, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children . I am asking you to go in to [the bed of] my maid [so that she may bear you a child]; perhaps I will [ p ] obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to Sarai and did as she said. 3  After Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian [maid], and gave her to her husband Abram to be his [secondary] wife. 4  He went in to [the bed of] Hagar, and she conceived; and when she realized that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress [regarding Sarai as insignificant because of her infertility]. 5  Then Sarai said to Abram, “May [the responsibility for] the wrong done to me [by the arrogant behavior of Hagar] be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, and when she realized that she had conceived, I was despised and looked on with disrespect. May the Lord judge [who has done right] between you and me.” 6  But Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your maid is entirely in your hands and subject to your authority; do as you please with her.” So Sarai treated her harshly and humiliated her, and Hagar fled from her.

7  But [ q ] the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, on the road to [Egypt by way of] Shur. 8  And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where did you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.” 9  The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress, and submit [ r ] humbly to her authority.” 10  Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” 11  The Angel of the Lord continued,

“Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall name him Ishmael (God hears), Because the Lord has heard and paid attention to your persecution (suffering). 12  “He (Ishmael) will be a wild donkey of a man; His hand will be against every man [continually fighting] And every man’s hand against him; And he will dwell in defiance of all his brothers.”

13  Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are [ s ] God Who Sees”; for she said, “Have I not even here [in the wilderness] remained alive after [ t ] seeing Him [who sees me with understanding and compassion]?” 14  Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi (Well of the Living One Who Sees Me); it is [ u ] between Kadesh and Bered.

15  So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son; and Abram named his son, to whom Hagar gave birth, [ v ] Ishmael (God hears). 16  Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision

17  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the [ w ] Lord appeared to him and said,

“I am [ x ] God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me]. 2  “I will establish My covenant (everlasting promise) between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly [through your descendants].”

3  Then Abram fell on his face [in worship], and God spoke with him, saying,

4  “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And [as a result] you shall be the father of many nations. 5  “No longer shall your name be Abram (exalted father), But your name shall be Abraham (father of a multitude); For I will make you the father of many nations.

6  I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and [ y ] kings will come from you. 7  I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. ( M ) 8  I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger [moving from place to place], all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession [of property]; and I will be their God.” ( N )

9  Further, God said to Abraham, “As for you [your part of the agreement], you shall keep and faithfully obey [the terms of] My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10  This is [the sign of] My covenant, which you shall keep and faithfully obey, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11  And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be the sign (symbol, memorial) of the covenant between Me and you. 12  Every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, [including] a servant whether born in the house or one who is purchased with [your] money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. 13  A servant who is born in your house or one who is purchased with your money must be circumcised; and [the sign of] My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14  And the male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

15  Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai (my princess), but her name will be Sarah ( [ z ] Princess). 16  I will bless her, and indeed I will also give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” 17  Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child ?” 18  And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael [my firstborn] might live before You!” 19  But God said, “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you shall name him Isaac (laughter); and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his descendants after him. 20  As for Ishmael, I have heard and listened to you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will greatly multiply him [through his descendants]. He will be the father of twelve princes (chieftains, sheiks), and I will make him a great nation. ( O ) 21  But My covenant [My promise, My solemn pledge], I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.” 22  And God finished speaking with him and went up from Abraham.

23  Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were purchased with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin the very same day, as God had said to him. 24  So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised. 25  And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. 26  On the very same day Abraham was circumcised, as well as Ishmael his son. 27  All the men [servants] of his household, both those born in the house and those purchased with money from a foreigner, were circumcised along with him [as the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham].

Birth of Isaac Promised

18  Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre [in Hebron], while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2  When he raised his eyes and looked up, behold, three men were standing [a little distance] from him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down [with his face] to the ground, 3  and Abraham said, “My [ aa ] lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant [without stopping to visit]. 4  Please let a little water be brought [by one of my servants] and [you may] wash your feet, and recline and rest comfortably under the tree. 5  And I will bring a piece of bread to refresh and sustain [ ab ] you; after that you may go on, since you have come to your servant.” And they replied, “Do as you have said.” 6  So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, get ready three [ ac ] measures of fine meal, knead it and bake cakes.” 7  Abraham also ran to the herd and brought a calf, tender and choice, and he gave it to the servant [to butcher], and he hurried to prepare it. 8  Then he took [ ad ] curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before the men; and he stood beside them under the tree while they ate.

9  Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10  He said, “I will surely return to you at this [ ae ] time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. ( P ) 11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; she was past [the age of] childbearing. 12  So Sarah laughed to herself [when she heard the Lord’s words], saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband) being also old?” ( Q ) 13  And the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh [to herself], saying, ‘Shall I really give birth [to a child] when I am so old?’ 14  Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the [ af ] Lord ? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.” ( R ) 15  Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh”; because she was afraid. And He (the Lord ) said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16  Then the men got up from there, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham walked with them to send them on the way. 17  The Lord said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do, ( S ) 18  since Abraham [ ag ] is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him? ( T ) 19  For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.” 20  And the Lord said, “The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave. 21  I will go down now, and see whether they have acted [as vilely and wickedly] as the outcry which has come to Me [indicates]; and if not, I will know.”

22  Now the [two] men (angelic beings) turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord . 23  Abraham approached [the Lord ] and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous (those who do right) with the wicked (those who do evil)? 24  Suppose there are fifty righteous [people] within the city; will You really sweep it away and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25  Far be it from You to do [ ah ] such a thing—to strike the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right [by executing just and righteous judgment]?” 26  So the Lord said, “If I find within the city of Sodom fifty righteous [people], then I will spare the entire place for their sake.” 27  Abraham answered, “Now behold, I who am but dust [in origin] and ashes have decided to speak to the Lord. ( U ) 28  If five of the fifty righteous are lacking, will You destroy the entire city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find [at least] forty-five [righteous people] there, I will not destroy it.” 29  Abraham spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose [only] forty are found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty [who are righteous].” 30  Then Abraham said [to Him], “Oh, may the Lord not be angry, and I will speak; suppose thirty [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31  And he said, “Now behold, I have decided to speak to the Lord [again]. Suppose [only] twenty [righteous people] are found there?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” 32  Then Abraham said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry [with me], and I will speak only this once; suppose ten [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” 33  As soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham the Lord departed, and Abraham returned to his own place.

The Doom of Sodom

19  It was evening when the two angels came to Sodom. Lot was sitting at Sodom’s [ [ ai ] city] gate. Seeing them, Lot got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2  And he said, “See here, my lords, please turn aside and come into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may get up early and go on your way.” But they said, “No, we shall spend the night in the open plaza [of the city].” 3  However, Lot strongly urged them, so they turned aside and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them [with wine], and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4  But before they lay down [to sleep], the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house, [ aj ] all the men from every quarter; 5  and they called out to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we may know them [intimately].” 6  But Lot went out of the doorway to the men, and shut the door after him, 7  and said, “Please, my brothers, do not do something so wicked. 8  See here, I have two daughters who have not known a man [intimately]; please let me bring them out to you [instead], and you can do as you please with them; only do nothing to these men, because they have in fact come under the shelter of my roof [for protection].” 9  But they said, “Get out of the way!” And they said, “This man (Lot) came [as an outsider] to live here temporarily, and now he is acting like a judge. Now we will treat you worse than your visitors!” So they rushed forward and pressed violently against [ ak ] Lot and came close to breaking down the door [of his house]. 10  But the men (angels) reached out with their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door [after him]. 11  They struck (punished) the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, from the young men to the old men, so that they exhausted themselves trying to find the doorway.

12  And the [two] men (angels) asked Lot, “Have you any others here [in Sodom]—a son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters? Whomever you have in the city, take them out of here; 13  for we are destroying this place, because the outcry [for judgment] against them has grown so great before the Lord that the Lord has sent us to destroy and ruin it.” 14  So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were [betrothed, and legally promised] to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he appeared to be joking.

15  When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot [to hurry], saying, “Get up! Take your wife and two daughters who are here [and go], or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16  But Lot hesitated and lingered. The men took hold of his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, because the Lord was merciful to him [for Abraham’s sake]; and they brought him out, and left him outside the city [with his family]. 17  When they had brought them outside, one [of the angels] said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, or stop anywhere in the entire valley; escape to the mountains [of Moab], or you will be consumed and swept away.” 18  But Lot said to them, “Oh no, [not that place] my lords! 19  Please listen, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness (mercy) to me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, because the disaster will overtake me and I will be killed. 20  Now look, this town [in the distance] is near enough for us to flee to, and it is small [with only a few people]. Please, let me escape there ( is it not small? ) so that my life will be saved.” 21  And the angel said to him, “Behold, I grant you this request also; I will not destroy this town of which you have spoken. 22  Hurry and take refuge there, for I cannot do anything [to punish Sodom] until you arrive there.” For this reason the town was named Zoar (few, small).

23  The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24  Then the Lord rained down brimstone (flaming sulfur) and fire on Sodom and on Gomorrah from the Lord out of heaven, 25  and He overthrew (demolished, ended) those cities, and the entire valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and whatever grew on the ground. 26  But Lot’s wife, from behind him, [foolishly, longingly] looked [back toward Sodom in an act of disobedience], and she [ al ] became a pillar of salt. ( V )

27  Abraham started out early the next morning to the place where he [only the day before] had stood before the Lord ; 28  and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley [of the Dead Sea]; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of [ am ] the land went up like the smoke of a kiln (pottery furnace).

29  Now when God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain [of Siddim], He remembered Abraham [and for that reason], and He sent [Abraham’s nephew] Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when He destroyed the cities in which Lot had lived.

Lot Is Debased

30  Now Lot went up from Zoar, and lived in the mountain together with his two daughters, for he was afraid to stay [any longer] in Zoar; and he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31  The firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is aging, and there is not a man on earth [available] to be intimate with us in the customary way [so that we may have children]. 32  Come, let us make our father drunk with wine, and we will lie with him so that we may preserve our family through our father.” 33  So they gave their father wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or when she got up [because he was completely intoxicated]. 34  Then the next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay with my father last night; let us make him drunk with wine tonight also, and then you go in and lie with him, so that we may preserve our family through our father.” 35  So they gave their father wine that night also, and the younger got up and lay with him; and again he did not know when she lay down or when she got up. 36  Thus both the daughters of Lot conceived by their father. 37  The firstborn gave birth to a son, and named him Moab (from father); he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38  The younger also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-ammi (son of my people); he is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Abraham’s Deception

20  Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the Negev (the South country), and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived temporarily in Gerar. 2  Abraham [ an ] said [again] of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So [ ao ] Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took [ ap ] Sarah [into his harem]. 3  But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night, and said, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your wife], for she is another man’s wife.” 4  Now Abimelech had not yet come near her; so he said, “Lord, will you kill a people who are righteous and innocent and blameless [regarding Sarah]? 5  Did Abraham not tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6  Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you an opportunity to touch her. 7  So now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her [to him], know that you shall die, you and all who are yours (your household).”

8  So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were terrified. 9  Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done [to anyone].” 10  And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered or seen [in us or our customs], that you have done this [unjust] thing?” 11  Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely there is no fear or reverence of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12  Besides, she actually is my [half] sister; she is the daughter of my father [Terah], but not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13  When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This kindness and loyalty you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, “He is my brother.”’” 14  Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him [as God commanded]. 15  So Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.” 16  Then to Sarah he said, “Look, I have given this brother of yours a [ aq ] thousand pieces of silver; it is to compensate you [for all that has happened] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated.” 17  So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and they again gave birth to children , 18  for the Lord had securely closed the wombs of all [the women] in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. ( W )

Isaac Is Born

21  The Lord graciously remembered and visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for her as He had promised. 2  So Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. 3  Abraham named his son Isaac (laughter), the son to whom Sarah gave birth. 4  So Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, just as God had commanded him. 5  Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born. 6  Sarah said, “God has made me laugh; all who hear [about our good news] will laugh with me.” 7  And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have given birth to a son by him in his old age.” ( X )

8  The child [Isaac] grew and was [ ar ] weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Sarah Turns against Hagar

9  Now [as time went on] Sarah saw [Ishmael] the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, [ as ] mocking [Isaac]. ( Y ) 10  Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” ( Z ) 11  The situation [ at ] distressed Abraham greatly because of his son [Ishmael]. 12  God said to Abraham, “Do not let it distress you because of Ishmael and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her and do what she asks, for your descendants will be named through Isaac. ( AA ) 13  And I will also make a nation of [Ishmael] the son of the maid, because he is your descendant.” 14  So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her [ au ] away. And she left [but lost her way] and wandered [aimlessly] in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

15  When the water in the skin was all gone, Hagar abandoned the boy under one of the bushes. 16  Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And as she sat down opposite him, she raised her voice and wept. 17  God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy from where he is [resting]. 18  Get up, help the boy up, and hold him by the hand, for I will make him a great nation.” 19  Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the [empty] skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20  God was with Ishmael, and he grew and developed; and he lived in the wilderness and became an [expert] archer. 21  He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

Covenant with Abimelech

22  Now at that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do; 23  so now, swear to me here by God that you will not deal unfairly with me [by breaking any agreements we have] or with my son or with my descendants, but as I have treated you with kindness, you shall do the same to me and to the land in which you have sojourned (temporarily lived).” 24  And Abraham said, “I will swear.” 25  Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water which the servants of Abimelech had [violently] seized [from him], 26  Abimelech said, “I do not know who did this thing. Indeed, you did not tell me, and I did not hear of it until today.”

27  So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant (binding agreement). 28  Then Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock, 29  and Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set apart?” 30  Abraham said, “You are to accept these seven ewe lambs from me as a witness for me, that I dug this well.” 31  Therefore that place was called Beersheba (Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven), because there the two of them swore an oath. 32  So they made a covenant at Beersheba; then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, got up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord [in prayer], [ av ] the Eternal God. 34  And Abraham lived [as a resident alien] in the land of the Philistines for [ aw ] many days.

The Offering of Isaac

22  Now after these things, God tested [the faith and commitment of] Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” 2  God said, “Take now your son, your only son [of [ ax ] promise], whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of [ ay ] Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3  So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then he got up and went to the place of which God had told him. 4  On the third day [of travel] Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5  Abraham said to his servants, “Settle down and stay here with the donkey; the [ az ] young man and I will go over there and worship [God], and we will come back to you.” ( AB ) 6  Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it [ ba ] on [the shoulders of] Isaac his son, and he took the [ bb ] fire (firepot) in his own hand and the [sacrificial] knife; and the two of them walked on together. 7  And Isaac said to Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8  Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself [ bc ] a lamb for the burnt offering.” So the two walked on together.

9  When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood, and bound Isaac his son and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. ( AC ) 10  Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to [ bd ] kill his son. ( AD ) 11  But the [ be ] Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He answered, “Here I am.” 12  The Lord said, “Do not reach out [with the knife in] your hand against the boy, and do nothing to [harm] him; for now I know that you fear God [with reverence and profound respect], since you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son [of promise].” 13  Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering (ascending sacrifice) instead of his son. 14  So Abraham named that place [ bf ] The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, “On the mountain of the Lord it [ bg ] will be seen and provided.”

15  The [ bh ] Angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16  and said, “By Myself (on the basis of Who I Am) I have sworn [an oath], declares the Lord , that since you have done this thing and have not withheld [from Me] your son, your only son [of promise], 17  indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies [as conquerors]. ( AE ) 18  Through your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.” ( AF ) 19  So Abraham returned to his servants, and they got up and went with him to Beersheba; and Abraham settled in Beersheba.

20  Now after these things Abraham was told, “Milcah has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21  Uz the firstborn and Buz his brother and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22  Chesed and Hazo and Pildash and Jidlaph and Bethuel.” 23  Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight [children] Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24  Nahor’s [ bi ] concubine, whose name was Reumah, gave birth to Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah.

Death and Burial of Sarah

23  Sarah lived a hundred and twenty-seven years; this was the length of the life of Sarah. 2  Sarah died in Kiriath-arba [ bj ] ( that is, Hebron ) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3  Then Abraham stood up before his dead [wife’s body], and spoke to the [ bk ] sons of Heth (Hittites), saying, 4  “I am a stranger and a sojourner (resident alien) among you; give (sell) me property for a burial place among you so that I may bury my dead [in the proper manner].” 5  The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6  “Listen to us, my lord; you are a prince of God [a mighty prince] among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave or hinder you from burying your dead [wife].” 7  So Abraham stood up and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites. 8  And Abraham said to them, “If you are willing to grant my dead a [proper] burial, listen to me, and plead with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, 9  so that he may give (sell) me the cave of Machpelah which he owns—it is at the end of his field; let him give it to me here in your presence for the full price as a burial site [which I may keep forever among you].” 10  Now Ephron was present there among the sons of Heth; so within the hearing of all the sons of Heth and all who were entering the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham, saying, 11  “No, my lord, hear me; I [ bl ] give you the [entire] field, and I also give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the men of my people I give (sell) it to you; bury your dead [there].” 12  Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13  He said to Ephron in the presence of the people of the land, “If you will only please listen to me and accept my offer. I will give you the price of the field; accept it from me and I will bury my dead there.” 14  Ephron replied to Abraham, 15  “My lord, listen to me. The land [you seek] is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” 16  So Abraham listened to Ephron [and agreed to his terms]; and he weighed out for Ephron the [amount of] silver which he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

17  So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre (Hebron)—the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and in all its borders around it—were deeded over [legally] 18  to Abraham as his possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who were entering at the gate of his city. 19  After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of [ bm ] Machpelah to the east of Mamre ( that is, Hebron ) in the land of Canaan. 20  The field and the cave in it were deeded over to Abraham by the Hittites as a [permanent] possession and burial place.

A Bride for Isaac

24  Now Abraham was old, [well] advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2  Abraham said to his servant [Eliezer of Damascus], the oldest of his household, who had charge over all that Abraham owned, “Please, put your hand under my thigh [as is customary for affirming a solemn oath], ( AG ) 3  and I will make you swear by the Lord , the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, 4  but you will [instead] go to my [former] country (Mesopotamia) and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac [the heir of the covenant promise].” 5  The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me back to this country; should I take your son back to the country from which you came?” 6  Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there! 7  The Lord , the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, from the land of my family and my birth, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you [to guide you], and you will take a wife from there for my son [and bring her here]. 8  If the woman is not willing to follow you [to this land], then you will be free from this my oath and blameless; only you must never take my son back there.” 9  So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

10  Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels, and set out, taking some of his master’s good things with him; so he got up and journeyed to [ bn ] Mesopotamia [between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers], to the city of Nahor [the home of Abraham’s brother]. 11  He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of the evening when women go out to draw water. 12  And he said, “O Lord , God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master Abraham. 13  Behold, I stand here at the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; 14  now let it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please, let down your jar so that I may [have a] drink,’ and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels water to drink’—may she be the one whom You have selected [as a wife] for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master.”

Rebekah Is Chosen

15  Before Eliezer had finished speaking (praying), Rebekah came out with her [water] jar on her shoulder. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel the [ bo ] son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16  The girl was very beautiful, a virgin and unmarried; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17  Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar.” 18  And she said, “Drink, my lord”; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink. 19  When she had given Eliezer a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking.” 20  So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran again to the well and drew water for all his camels. 21  Meanwhile, the man stood gazing at Rebekah in [reverent] silence, [waiting] to know if the Lord had made his trip successful or not.

22  When the camels had finished drinking, Eliezer took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her hands weighing ten shekels in gold, 23  and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?” 24  And she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to [her husband] Nahor.” 25  Again she said to him, “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and also room to lodge.” 26  The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord . 27  He said, “Blessed be the Lord , the God of my master Abraham, who has not denied His lovingkindness and His truth to my master. As for me, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brothers.”

28  Then the girl ran and told her mother’s household what had happened. 29  Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the man at the well. 30  When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he heard Rebekah his sister, saying, “The man said this to me,” he went to Eliezer and found him standing by the camels at the spring. 31  And Laban said, “Come in, blessed of the Lord ! Why do you stand outside since I have made the house ready and have prepared a place for the camels?” 32  So the man came into the house, and Laban unloaded his camels and gave them straw and feed, and [he gave] water to [Eliezer to] wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33  But when food was set before him, he said, “I will not eat until I have stated my business.” And Laban said, “Speak on.” 34  So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35  The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great (wealthy, powerful); He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys. 36  Now Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was in her old age, and he has given everything that he has to him. 37  My master made me swear [an oath], saying, ‘You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; 38  but you shall [instead] go to my father’s house and to my family and take a wife for my son [Isaac].’ 39  Then I said to my master, ‘But suppose the woman will not follow me [back to this land].’ 40  He said to me, ‘The Lord , before whom I walk [habitually and obediently], will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house; 41  then you will be free of my oath, when you come to my relatives; and if they do not give her to you, you will [also] be free of my oath.’

42  “I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O Lord , God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful; 43  please look, I am standing by the spring of water; now let it be that when the maiden [whom You have chosen for Isaac] comes out to draw [water], and to whom I say, “Please, give me a little water to drink from your jar”; 44  and if she says to me, “You drink, and I will also draw [water] for your camels”; let that woman be the one whom the Lord has selected and chosen [as a wife] for my master’s son.’

45  “Before I had finished praying in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her [water] jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please, let me have a drink.’ 46  And she quickly let down her jar from her shoulder , and said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels’; so I drank, and she also watered the camels. 47  Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him’; and I [ bp ] put the ring in her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. 48  And I bowed down my head and worshiped the Lord , and blessed the Lord , the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take the daughter of my master’s brother to his son [as a wife]. 49  So now if you are going to show kindness and truth to my master [being faithful to him], tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right or to the left [and go on my way].”

50  Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The matter has come from the Lord ; so we dare not speak bad or good [to you about it—we cannot interfere]. 51  Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.”

52  When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground [in worship] before the Lord . 53  Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and articles of clothing, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. 54  Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night [there]. In the morning when they got up, he said, “Now send me back to my master.” 55  But Rebekah’s brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days—at least ten; then she may go.” 56  But Eliezer said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away, so that I may go back to my master.” 57  And they said, “We will call the girl and ask her [ bq ] what she prefers.” 58  So they called Rebekah and said, “Will you go with this man?” And she answered, “I will go.” 59  So they sent off their sister Rebekah and her nurse [Deborah, as her attendant] and Abraham’s servant [Eliezer] and his men. 60  They blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“May you, our sister, Become [the mother of] thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess (conquer) The [city] gate of those who hate them.”

61  Then Rebekah and her attendants [ br ] stood, and they mounted camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.

Isaac Marries Rebekah

62  Now Isaac had returned from going to Beer-lahai-roi (Well of the Living One Who Sees Me), for he was living in the [ bs ] Negev. ( AH ) 63  Isaac went out to bow down [in prayer] in the field in the [early] evening; he raised his eyes and looked, and camels were coming. 64  Rebekah also raised her eyes and looked, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from her camel. 65  She said to the servant, “Who is that man there walking across the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “He is my master [Isaac].” So she took a veil and covered herself [as was customary]. 66  The servant told Isaac everything that he had done. 67  Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah [in marriage], and she became his wife, and he loved her; therefore Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

• Genesis 12:2 These verses (2, 3) give the basic outline of God’s covenant with Abraham.
• Genesis 12:6 I.e. the descendants of Ham’s son who was cursed by Noah.
• Genesis 12:11 Sarai was about sixty-five years old at this time.
• Genesis 12:13 Sarai was Abraham’s half sister. They had the same father, but different mothers (Gen 20:12).
• Genesis 14:2 One of the many facts supporting the antiquity of Genesis is that many of the original names of places mentioned were so old that Moses had to add an explanation in order to identify these ancient names, so that the Israelites returning from Egypt could recognize them. Chapter 14 alone contains six such explanatory notes (Gen 14:2, 3, 7, 8, 15, 17).
• Genesis 14:13 This ethnic designation means “descended from Eber” or, more probably, “one who crosses (a border).”
• Genesis 14:18 Heb king of righteousness .
• Genesis 14:18 Heb El Elyon and so throughout the chapter. The supreme Ruler of all the universe; His dominion is all encompassing and everlasting.
• Genesis 15:2 Heb YHWH , usually rendered Lord .
• Genesis 15:6 This was crucial to God’s plan of salvation, as can be seen in Rom 4. There was simply no way that anyone except Christ could ever be sufficiently righteous to meet God’s standards and avoid condemnation. Having faith in God and placing one’s trust in Him was not in itself something that could be a substitute for perfect righteousness, but God graciously determined to accept faith as an equivalent for that righteousness nonetheless. So in a sense, Abraham—and all believers since him, who are his spiritual descendants—received righteousness on credit, and the bill for that righteousness was paid by the death of Christ on the cross.
• Genesis 15:8 Heb YHWH , usually rendered Lord .
• Genesis 15:10 This was preparation for an ancient ceremony that formally bound two parties to an agreement or covenant (v 18). Reference is made to the ceremony in Jer 34:18, but details are not given elsewhere in Scripture.
• Genesis 15:16 This prophecy was fulfilled when Moses led the Israelites back to Canaan after their four hundred years in Egypt. He was “in the fourth generation” from Jacob—Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses.
• Genesis 15:16 The most important and powerful group of that region. The name “Amorite” later became virtually synonymous with that of the inhabitants of Canaan. They were known for their many superstitious practices (according to the Talmud).
• Genesis 15:17 I.e. a large bowl or pan holding burning coals.
• Genesis 16:2 This must have been an acceptable practice in that time and culture, based on the idea that the children of such a union would belong to the owner of the slave-girl. Abram undoubtedly had informed Sarai of God’s promise to him, and Sarai perhaps thought that this was necessary in order to bring about God’s plan for them.
• Genesis 16:7 This is the first occurrence of “Angel of the Lord ( YHWH )” in Scripture. The Hebrew word for “angel” means “messenger” (an angel of God is a special messenger from God who speaks for and is closely identified with Him) and context determines whether the messenger is an angel or a human. The same is true for Greek, and the word “angel” is an English form (transliteration) of the Gr aggelos . The Angel of the Lord can be a special case, however. Many Bible scholars believe that this Angel may be a theophany, that is, a physical manifestation of God, in which case the word Angel is capitalized. The Angel of the Lord may, based on context, be the pre-incarnate Christ, the Son of God.
• Genesis 16:9 Lit under her hands .
• Genesis 16:13 Heb El roi ; God never sleeps, He sees, He is aware, He is the great Omnipresent God.
• Genesis 16:13 Or seen the back of Him who sees me , which would suggest that at some point in their conversation Hagar requested to see the divine Angel (see note v 7) and, as in Moses’ encounter with God (Ex 33:18-23), was granted the privilege of seeing His back. The wording of the Hebrew is not clear enough to further narrow the possibilities.
• Genesis 16:14 This, “it is between Kadesh and Bered,” is further proof of the antiquity of the original names, since the place had to be identified to the reader in the time of Moses.
• Genesis 16:15 Ishmael was the first person whom God named before his birth (Gen 16:11). Others were: Isaac (Gen 17:19); Josiah (1 Kin 13:2); Solomon (1 Chr 22:9); Jesus (Matt 1:21); and John the Baptist (Luke 1:13).
• Genesis 17:1 Heb YHWH (Yahweh).
• Genesis 17:1 Heb El Shaddai ; God is the All-Sufficient One; He gives life; He nurtures; He pours out His blessings.
• Genesis 17:6 This prophecy and promise has been literally fulfilled countless times—for example, by all of the kings of Israel and Judah.
• Genesis 17:15 The difference in the names can perhaps be seen in a comment made by the rabbis: “At first she became a princess to her own people, but later she became a princess to the entire world” (as quoted from the Talmud).
• Genesis 18:3 At some point during this encounter, Abraham understood that one of the three men was actually God appearing as a man (or as an angel; cf note 16:7), and he addressed Him as such in v 14. Verse 13 confirms that it was the Lord who spoke to him. The other two men were angels.
• Genesis 18:5 Lit your heart .
• Genesis 18:6 Heb seim , plural of seah ; since one seah equals about nine quarts, this was a large quantity. However, Abraham was asking Sarah to make cakes of bread which actually could be baked quickly because they were similar to pizza dough, that is, large, round, and flat. Together with the other food that Abraham provided (vv 7, 8), his promise of “a piece of bread” in v 5 was greatly understated, and the generous meal reflected the respect that he held for his special visitors.
• Genesis 18:8 Or sour milk , or perhaps butter . It may have served as a kind of condiment for the bread.
• Genesis 18:10 Lit when the time revives . Some regard this as a reference to springtime. Others think it means “the time when the life is ready.”
• Genesis 18:14 The divine Hebrew name YHWH (Yahweh) , usually represented by “ Lord ,” occurs more than 5,000 times in the Bible.
• Genesis 18:18 Lit will surely .
• Genesis 18:25 Lit according to this word .
• Genesis 19:1 In ancient times this was the primary place of commerce and legal business.
• Genesis 19:4 The emphasis in the text that all the men of Sodom came reveals the depth of their depravity.
• Genesis 19:9 Lit the man .
• Genesis 19:26 Lot’s wife not only “looked back” to where her interests were, but perhaps lingered behind and was overtaken by the fire and brimstone; her dead body likely became continually encrusted with salt since this disaster occurred in the salt-rich area around the Dead Sea.
• Genesis 19:28 Not only were Sodom and Gomorrah blazing ruins, but also Admah and Zeboiim (Deut 29:23; Hos 11:8), as well as all the towns in the Valley of Siddim; Zoar was the lone exception.
• Genesis 20:2 See 12:11-13.
• Genesis 20:2 The word “Abimelech” may be a royal title instead of a proper name. In either case this man is probably the father or grandfather of Abimelech king of the Philistines encountered later by Isaac (26:1).
• Genesis 20:2 Sarah was about ninety years old at this time.
• Genesis 20:16 Perhaps about three years’ or a thousand days’ wages.
• Genesis 21:8 This was probably when the child was about three years of age. Samuel served in the sanctuary from the time that he was weaned (1 Sam 1:22-28), and a Hebrew mother is quoted in 2 Maccabees 7:27 as saying to her son that she nursed him for three years.
• Genesis 21:9 Ishmael was old enough to know better than to ridicule or tease his much younger brother, and his behavior was inappropriate and thoughtless.
• Genesis 21:11 Lit was very displeasing in the eyes of Abraham .
• Genesis 21:14 Ishmael was born when Abraham was eighty-six years old (Gen 16:16), so Ishmael was about fourteen when Isaac was born, and about sixteen or seventeen years old when Isaac was weaned (Gen 21:8; 2 Chr 31:16).
• Genesis 21:33 Heb El Olam .
• Genesis 21:34 I.e. an extended period of time.
• Genesis 22:2 Abraham also fathered Ishmael by Sarah’s slave, Hagar, but Isaac was his only son of promise, the legal heir of Abraham.
• Genesis 22:2 This area later was to become Jerusalem and the site of Solomon’s temple.
• Genesis 22:5 At this time Isaac would probably be about twenty years old.
• Genesis 22:6 As Jesus carried the crossbar for His own crucifixion, so here Isaac carried the wood for his own execution by fire, but God had mercy on him.
• Genesis 22:6 I.e. a firepot filled with burning coals.
• Genesis 22:8 Abraham had complete faith and trust in God. Because God’s covenant with him depended on Isaac, Abraham may have anticipated that God would reveal to him an alternative to the sacrifice of Isaac, as He in fact did (vv 11-13). But Abraham was determined to carry out what God had commanded him to do, because of his faith in God’s promise.
• Genesis 22:10 The Hebrew verb refers to a ritual procedure by which the blood flows straight to the ground.
• Genesis 22:11 See note 16:7.
• Genesis 22:14 Heb YHWH jireh . Lit the Lord will see (in the sense of “see to it”).
• Genesis 22:14 This is a prophetic statement which looks ahead to the fact that the Messiah, the Son of God, would be the ultimate sacrifice, chosen and provided by the Father.
• Genesis 22:15 See note 16:7.
• Genesis 22:24 I.e. a type of secondary or inferior “wife” (often a slave), much lower in rank than the official wife who managed the household and gave birth to the “legitimate” children. Concubines had marginal rights to financial support and recognition. Their children were usually acknowledged as offspring of the man, but were of lower status than the children born to the official wife.
• Genesis 23:2 This comment indicates that the text was written at a very early date, before Israel entered the promised land, because afterward Hebron was well known. Not only was it conspicuous in Joshua’s and Caleb’s day, but it became a “city of refuge.” Besides all this, David was king in Hebron for seven years.
• Genesis 23:3 The Hittites, along with the Egyptians and the Assyrians, were among the great powers in the ancient Middle East. They were famous for their fine horses, many of which were acquired by Solomon through trade. They also discovered and held secret the process of smelting iron when iron was treasured almost as much as gold. These Hittites were of Indo-European origin. The relationship, if any, between these Anatolian Hittites and the descendants of Canaan’s son, Heth, is unclear.
• Genesis 23:11 This was not an offer to give the land to Abraham as a gift, but part of the negotiating process of the time.
• Genesis 23:19 Here were buried Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah (Gen 49:31; 50:13).
• Genesis 24:10 Heb Aram Naharaim , “Aram of the two rivers.”
• Genesis 24:15 See 22:20-24.
• Genesis 24:47 This was a customary act of admiration and respect; otherwise, Rebekah would not have accepted it.
• Genesis 24:57 Lit mouth .
• Genesis 24:61 The Hebrew verb “to stand” or “arise” is often used as an instruction to prepare to fulfill a command, somewhat similar to the military command “attention.”
• Genesis 24:62 The South country, south and west of the Dead Sea.

Cross references

• Genesis 12:1 : Heb 11:8-10
• Genesis 12:3 : Gal 3:8
• Genesis 13:4 : Gal 3:6-9
• Genesis 13:15 : Acts 7:5
• Genesis 13:16 : Gen 28:14
• Genesis 14:20 : Heb 7:1-10
• Genesis 15:5 : Heb 11:12
• Genesis 15:6 : Rom 4:3, 18-22; Gal 3:6; James 2:23
• Genesis 15:13 : Ex 12:40
• Genesis 15:14 : Ex 12:35, 36; Acts 7:6, 7
• Genesis 15:16 : Josh 24:15
• Genesis 15:17 : Jer 34:18, 19
• Genesis 17:7 : Gal 3:16
• Genesis 17:8 : Acts 7:5
• Genesis 17:20 : Gen 25:12-18
• Genesis 18:10 : Rom 9:9-12
• Genesis 18:12 : 1 Pet 3:6
• Genesis 18:14 : Matt 19:26
• Genesis 18:17 : Gal 3:8
• Genesis 18:18 : Gen 12:2, 3
• Genesis 18:27 : Gen 3:19; Job 30:19
• Genesis 19:26 : Luke 17:32
• Genesis 20:18 : 1 Pet 3:1-6
• Genesis 21:7 : Heb 11:12
• Genesis 21:9 : Gal 4:29
• Genesis 21:10 : Gal 4:28-31
• Genesis 21:12 : Rom 9:7
• Genesis 22:5 : Heb 11:17-19
• Genesis 22:9 : Matt 10:37
• Genesis 22:10 : Heb 11:17-19
• Genesis 22:17 : Heb 6:13, 14; 11:12
• Genesis 22:18 : Gen 12:2, 3; 13:16; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Acts 3:25, 26; Gal 3:16
• Genesis 24:2 : Gen 15:2
• Genesis 24:62 : Gen 16:14

Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation , La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

Bible Gateway Recommends

The Journey of Abraham

This map is available as a high resolution digital download with detailed instructions. You must bring the file to an Office Depot or similar store for easy color print and lamination. For personal, church or classroom use only.

Genesis 12:1 "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee"

FOLLOW THE MAP

Map of Abraham's Journey . This map reveals the places mentioned in the Bible about the journey of Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees to the Promised Land which was over 1000 miles. Abraham and his family departed up the Euphrates River to Haran . Later Abraham journeyed further around the Fertile Crescent into the land of Canaan where he built an altar to the LORD. Later a famine forced them to go to  the land of Egypt .

Abraham's Journey for Little Kids

Click here to listen if the above player does not work.

Ur of the Chaldees. Abraham was living in Ur of the Chaldees when the Lord appeared to him. Ur was a very famous place in the ancient world. It was located in the very southern portion of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in the Persian Gulf. There is a great civilization there and the history goes back to the time before the flood of Noah. The reason it is called Ur of the Chaldees is because it was the capital of the Chaldean Empire. There have been many archaeological discoveries there, and the great ziggurat remains can still be seen there.

Haran . The city of Haran was an important city in Mesopotamia and located at the northern portion of the Euphrates River. it was a beautiful country at the foot of the mountains with rich soil and good farmland. Abraham had family there, and this is where his brother Nahor and his family dwelt. Abraham's father Terah died in Haran.

Canaan . The land of Canaan would be the inheritance of the descendents of Abraham. But Abraham would be a pilgrim there, and his descendents would be pilgrims in the promised land. They would not receive their inheritance until the time was ready when God would give them the land. Abraham dwelt at Shechem and God appeared to him again confirming his promises. Abraham built an altar at Shechem. Later Abraham journeyed southward and came to a mountain near Bethel where he built another altar.

Altars. Stone altars were places where men of God would offer up a sacrifice according to God's promises. Abraham understood that the only way to approach God was on the basis of a substitute. God promised that this would be temporary and one day the final sacrifice would be made and Jesus would be the substitute for all mankind.

Egypt . Abraham and his family journeyed into the land of Egypt because of a famine. God blessed Abraham while he was there in the king of Egypt fear the Lord and made sure that he was careful with Abraham because God was with him.

The study of Abraham is very important in the study of the Bible, let's pray:

Dear Jesus, we thank you for Abraham's faith which is mentioned throughout the Bible. He was truly a hero, not because he wanted to be but because he obeyed God. Help me Lord to obey you even if what you're asking me to do is difficult. I thank you that you love me and you know what is best for me. In Jesus name? Amen!

The Geography of the Bible

© Bible History Online ( https://bible-history.com ) Made by Network Local

• Online Chat

• Products by Category
• On Sale This Week
• New Releases in Accordance
• Collections Comparison
• Purchase Options
• Make the Switch
• Individual Discount Application
• Institution Application
• Academic Collections
• Pastor Spotlight
• Accordance eAcademy
• 中文 (Chinese)
• User Forums
• Email Notification Preferences

Measuring the March to Moriah

Yesterday in my Sunday School class, I was teaching on Genesis 22, the story of Abraham’s binding of Isaac. One of the elements of that narrative is the description of their journey to the land of Moriah.

It is clear from the surrounding context that Abraham and Isaac began their journey at Beer-sheba, and the narrative records that “on the third day” Abraham saw their destination in the distance. Since 2 Chronicles 3:1 identifies the temple mount in Jerusalem as “Mount Moriah,” it appears that Jerusalem was their intended destination. If that was really the case that they were traveling from Beersheba to Jerusalem, would Abraham really have seen Mount Moriah at a distance “on the third day”?

The Accordance Bible Atlas makes it easy to measure distances from one point to another: simply hold down the option key (on Mac) or alt key (on Windows), then click and drag from one point to another. The distance will be calculated and displayed in the top right corner of the map window as well as in the Instant Details. As long as you keep holding down the option/alt key, you can even click and then drag in a different direction.

Using 20 miles as the average distance they could have walked per day, I dragged until I reached 20 miles, which put them a little south of Hebron. Twenty miles more placed them just north of Bethlehem, and Jerusalem was only 4 or 5 miles beyond that. Thus, Abraham would indeed have seen Mount Moriah at a distance at some point on their third day of traveling.

Have you used this feature of the Accordance Atlas yet? Share any interesting discoveries you’ve made about biblical distances in the comments on this post.

Advertisement

How the Key Bridge Collapsed in Baltimore: Maps and Photos

By Weiyi Cai ,  Agnes Chang ,  Lauren Leatherby ,  Lazaro Gamio ,  Leanne Abraham and Scott Reinhard

On Tuesday, a major bridge in Baltimore collapsed into the water seconds after it was struck by a cargo ship, sending vehicles on the bridge into the river below. The ship lost power and issued a mayday call shortly before it hit the bridge.

The ship, a 948-foot-long cargo vessel called Dali, was about a half hour into its journey toward Colombo, Sri Lanka, when it hit a main pillar of the bridge. All crew members are safe, according to the ship’s owners.

Follow our live coverage .

A mayday call from the ship gave officials enough time to stop traffic at both ends of the bridge. The waters where the bridge collapsed are about 50 feet deep. By Tuesday morning, six construction workers who had been fixing potholes on the bridge remained missing as divers and other emergency workers on boats and helicopters continued to search for them. Two others had been rescued, and one was in the hospital.

Francis Scott

Patapsco River

The ship left the Port

of Baltimore around

1 a.m. on Tuesday.

Where impact occurred

Direction of the ship

The ship hit the

bridge at 1:28 a.m.

The ship hit the bridge at 1:28 a.m.

Where impact

Source: Spire Global

The New York Times; satellite image by Google Earth

The lights of the ship flickered on and off as it lost power in the minutes before the ship changed bearing and hit the bridge.

Ship approached from

the Port of Baltimore

Road repair crews

Ship changed heading

as it neared pillar

Ship hit pillar

Southern and central spans

of bridge began to collapse within

seconds of impact

Northern span began to

collapse seconds later

Within 30 seconds of impact,

the central part of bridge had

entirely collapsed.

Source: StreamTime Live via YouTube

Timestamps are from StreamTime Live video.

The New York Times

The Francis Scott Key Bridge was opened in 1977 and carried more than 12.4 million vehicles last year. The bridge was one of the three major ways to cross the Patapsco River and formed part of Baltimore’s beltway.

The Port of Baltimore is a major trade hub that handled a record amount of foreign cargo last year. It is an especially important destination — the nation’s largest by volume last year — for deliveries of cars and light trucks.

Ship impact

To Chesapeake Bay

Sources: Maryland Port Administration, OpenStreetMap, MarineTraffic

Note: Ship positions are as of 2:46 p.m. Eastern time.

Overall, Baltimore was the 17th biggest port in the United States in 2021, ranked by total tons, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The bridge collapse brought marine traffic there to a standstill, with seven cargo or tanker ships stranded in the harbor as of Tuesday afternoon.

Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency for Maryland and said that his office was in close communication with Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. transportation secretary. The White House issued a statement saying that President Biden had been briefed on the collapse.

Erin Schaff/The New York Times

• Share full article

Watch CBS News

How to travel around the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore: A look at the traffic impact and alternate routes

By Rohan Mattu

Updated on: April 1, 2024 / 8:13 AM EDT / CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE -- The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early on the morning of March 26  led to a major traffic impact for the region and cut off a major artery into and out of the port city. 

Drivers are told to prepare for extra commuting time until further notice.

Alternate routes after Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

Maryland transit authorities quickly put detours in place for those traveling through Dundalk or the Curtis Bay/Hawkins Point side of the bridge. The estimated 31,000 who travel the bridge every day will need to find a new route for the foreseeable future. 

The outer loop I-695 closure shifted to exit 1/Quarantine Road (past the Curtis Creek Drawbridge) to allow for enhanced local traffic access. 

The inner loop of I-695 remains closed at MD 157 (Peninsula Expressway). Additionally, the ramp from MD 157 to the inner loop of I-695 will be closed. 

Alternate routes are I-95 (Fort McHenry Tunnel) or I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) for north/south routes. 

Commercial vehicles carrying materials that are prohibited in the tunnel crossings, including recreation vehicles carrying propane, should plan on using I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) between Essex and Glen Burnie. This will add significant driving time.    

Where is the Francis Scott Key Bridge? 

The Key Bridge crosses the Patapsco River, a key waterway that along with the Port of Baltimore serves as a hub for East Coast shipping. 

The bridge is the outermost of three toll crossings of Baltimore's Harbor and the final link in Interstate 695, known in the region as the Baltimore Beltway, which links Baltimore and Washington, D.C. 

The bridge was built after the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel reached capacity and experienced heavy congestion almost daily, according to the MDTA. 

Tractor-trailer inspections

Tractor-trailers that now have clearance to use the tunnels will need to be checked for hazardous materials, which are not permitted in tunnels, and that could further hold up traffic. 

The MDTA says vehicles carrying bottled propane gas over 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) or the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895).  

Any vehicles transporting hazardous materials should use the western section of I-695 around the tunnels, officials said. 

• Francis Scott Key Bridge
• Bridge Collapse
• Patapsco River

Rohan Mattu is a digital producer at CBS News Baltimore. Rohan graduated from Towson University in 2020 with a degree in journalism and previously wrote for WDVM-TV in Hagerstown. He maintains WJZ's website and social media, which includes breaking news in everything from politics to sports.

Featured Local Savings

More from cbs news.

Carnival's Legend ship docks in Norfolk in wake of Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse

Why did the Key Bridge collapse so quickly? Engineering expert weighs in

Memorial honors victims of Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

Tugboat company stuck at dock as Baltimore bridge cleanup continues: 'We can't go in or out'

• Weird But True
• Sex & Relationships
• Viral Trends
• Human Interest
• Fashion & Beauty
• Food & Drink

trending now in Lifestyle

Surgeon reveals the one body part that indicates penis size —...

Dear Abby: My grandfather lied to my family — I feel icky about...

WFH employee fired after boss tracked her laptop activity breaks...

Yes, your 20s are tough — but doctors are making them worse by...

The 'insane' sleeping hack that 'works wonders': 'Best sleep of...

Gen Z doesn't care for table manners — and refuse to stop doing...

Here’s what to do if you’re left stranded like the Norwegian...

We took Ozempic thinking we’d lose weight — we didn’t, and...

Boeing’s mess will probably interfere with your summer travel — these airlines are most impacted.

• View Author Archive
• Follow on Twitter
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Don’t expect air travel to soar at new heights this summer.

The ongoing drama with Boeing is poised to hamper travel in the upcoming months, experts warn, as airlines scramble to distance themselves from the embattled airplane maker.

Boeing is currently weathering a storm of negative press after  a door plug blew off a January Alaska Airlines flight . In March, passengers on a United Airlines Boeing jet had to be evacuated  after the flight went off its runway  in Houston and 50 people were bloodied and hurt on a New Zealand-bound Boeing jet that  plummeted into a frightening nosedive .

Many airlines are either backlogged trying to purchase new planes from competitors, such as Airbus, or waiting for Boeing’s new line of “high-quality airplanes that meet all regulatory requirements,” a spokesperson told MarketWatch .

“A lot of airlines touch Boeing products every day,” said travel expert Katy Nastro.

“When something affects Boeing, it’s likely to affect those carriers that are all Boeing or [that] have a fleet that’s significantly more Boeing versus Airbus.”

United Airlines, which has taken a near equal amount of flack as Boeing for recent in-flight mishaps, is putting a freeze on hiring pilots to acquire new planes from the direct Boeing rival.

“As you know, United has hundreds of new planes on order, and while we remain on a path to be the fastest-growing airline in the industry, we just won’t grow as fast as we thought we would in 2024 due to continued delays at Boeing,” according to a United Memo shared with the outlet.

Southwest Airlines also finds itself in a turbulent spot as it flies only Boeing 737 jets. The airline was initially anticipating its entire order of 79 new planes fulfilled, but only 46 are slated to arrive this year now.

Now, Southwest is going to axe 1% — still a few thousand flights — for the year.

Nastro says this will likely hit “oversaturated” routes to popular destinations like Orlando or Las Vegas in addition to more obscure airports.

Delta Airlines is also waiting on a new fleet of Boeing Max 10 jets, but CEO Ed Bastian recently told Bloomberg that the order could be delayed until 2027.

Alaska Airlines said in a statement that the flyer remains “committed to Boieng” at this time, despite having full flight capacity “in flux,” company documents from March show .

The Irish airline Ryanair has 400 of its 600 planes made by Boeing and has 210 brand new Max 8 planes on the way. Initially, 57 were expected for June but that number was slashed to 40.

Now, the airline is removing flights from ten routes from July to September while also hiking ticket prices by 10%, CEO Michael O’Leary said last month . That’s on top of a recent 17% cost raise from last year.

Another way to try and mitigate damage is by many airlines flying dated “workhorses” in the sky, according to Gunnar Olson, a flight-deal analyst.

“Most travelers will not notice how old the plane is,” he said. “The flying experience is pretty much the same.”

Share this article:

Advertisement